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How to Clean a Clothes Dryer Vent

HSM staff

A clothes dryer's exhaust vent that is clogged with lint causes the dryer to work less efficiently. Additionally, lint build-up can lead to a house fire. Clean your dryer's vent ducts twice a year to maximize air flow and minimize fire hazard.

TOOLS

Screwdriver
Toothbrush
Vacuum cleaner with hose attachment
Hand towel
Utility knife

Unplug the dryer and turn off the gas supply if it's a gas dryer.

Pull out the dryer to gain access to the rear panel. Pull it out just to the extension of the vent- generally, 1 ½ - 2 feet. Be careful to not kink the gas supply tubing.

Use a screwdriver to remove the vent clamp on the back of the dryer.

Remove the duct.

Turn on your vacuum and place the hose in the hole on the back of the dryer (dryer outlet) to remove lint build-up.

Use a toothbrush to remove lint from the outside of the outlet, exhaust hood, and flapper. Wipe away lint on the rear panel using a hand towel.

Remove the lint within the duct, too. Do this by either reaching into it or by using your vacuum- be careful of any sharp edges.

Reattach the duct to the dryer and tighten the screws.

BEFORE you plug in your dryer, clean out the exterior vent.

Remove the exterior vent by loosening the screws and cutting away any caulking. If there is a sleeve inside the duct, carefully remove it.

Reach inside or use the vacuum to clear out any lint and debris.

Turn the gas on, plug in the dryer, and move the dryer back into place.

Run the dryer on the air only cycle for ten minutes. Any debris that has been loosened will be forced out through the exterior vent.

Check the exterior for obstructions one last time, replace the sleeve and outside vent, and re-caulk.

Variations:
If you have a leaf blower, purchase an attachment that will allow you to blow all the lint and debris out of your ducts.

You can purchase a special brush to remove the lint, too. It's akin to a snake with a stiff brush on the end and will manuever around bends in your duct work to remove all the lint.

Leveling a Clothes Washer

HSM staff

Does your clothes washer bounce all about every time you do a load of laundry? It may not be level. A quick way to check is to allow your washer to fill with water. Then, observe the water level compared with the holes in the tub. A level washer will have a water level that strikes the holes at the same point all around the tub. If you discover that yours isn't level, the following tips can help.

First, look under your washer and make sure all the feet are in contact with the floor. If they're not, you can use shims to fill the gaps.

If shimming doesn‘t work, you'll need to level it from side to side as well as front to back. For this task, you will need a carpenter's level and an adjustable wrench.

To adjust the washer from side to side:

Place the level on the front edge of the washer and observe the bubbles.

Loosen the locknuts on the front leveling feet with the adjustable wrench. Then, use the wrench to turn the feet until the bubbles are centered on the level.

Tilt the washer forward slightly. This will allow the rear feet to self-adjust.

To adjust the washer from front to back:

Hold the level parallel against the side of the washer and observe the bubbles.

Again, use the wrench to adjust the front feet until the bubbles are centered.

Once the washer is level both side to side and front to back, use the adjustable wrench to tighten the front locknuts.

Did You Know?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are 15,500 fires caused by clothes dryers each year.

Quick Tips

Clean out your lint trap on your dryer after each load of laundry.
Look for warning signs that you have excess lint build-up: clothing getting very hot or the dryer not drying as well as in the past.
Check your warranty to ensure that you do not void your warranty by conducting maintenance yourself. Some manufacturers will require that you use a certified technician.
Always unplug the dryer and turn off the gas before doing any maintenance.
If your washer suddenly starts hopping, your clothing probably became unevenly distributed during the spin cycle. Open the lid and even out the load.
Get in the habit of turning off the water to your washer after doing laundry or install a water leak detection system. This will prevent water damage from leaky/busted hoses.
Check hoses often for damage and replace when needed.
If your laundry room is not on ground level or if you have a basement below, only certain types of front loading machines are rated for use in your space. Do your research before buying one.

Resources
The Laundry Alternative Inc.
The Dryerbox
Consumer Product Safety Commission
State Farm Insurance

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