Dryer Vent Cleared

How to complete Dryer Vent Cleared

Lint that slips past the trap packs into the duct behind your dryer, choking airflow until the machine overheats - clogged vents are a leading cause of house fires. Clearing the full run also cuts drying time and energy use noticeably.

1. Unplug the dryer (and shut off gas if it's a gas unit), then pull it out from the wall
2. Disconnect the flexible duct from the back of the dryer and from the wall outlet
3. Run a dryer-vent brush or vacuum hose through the duct from both ends to pull out packed lint
4. Go outside and clear the exterior vent flap, making sure the louvers move freely
5. Reconnect everything snugly, push the dryer back, and run a short cycle to confirm strong airflow at the outdoor vent

Tips

• Replace ribbed plastic or foil ducting with rigid or semi-rigid metal - it traps far less lint and resists fire
• If you feel weak or no air at the outdoor flap during a cycle, there's still a blockage somewhere in the run
• Do this once a year, more often with pets or heavy laundry loads

What counts as done

The duct and exterior vent are lint-free, and you can feel strong warm airflow from the outside vent while the dryer runs.