How To Remove Dryer Lint From the Exhaust Hose

7/21/2019 (Permalink)

Clothes dryers require some maintenance to not only stay fully functioning for as long as possible but also to ensure your own safety, as an accumulation of lint can cause a lint fire. To prevent this from happening in Eason, OK, there are a couple of simple things you can do to keep your dryer running properly.

Clean the Lint Screen

Each time you use the dryer, it is best to clean the lint from the lint screen, which is found either inside the dryer or somewhere easily accessible on the outside. Gently pull it out and wipe the lint off with your hand, brush, or a vacuum hose. Leaving lint to gather over a long period of time could cause a dryer fire.
If you use dryer sheets, wash the lint screen with soap and water every few weeks. Dryer sheets can leave a residue behind and may increase fire damage. You can also take a vacuum hose and vacuum out the area where the lint screen is held, to clean out any lint that has been left behind.

Clean the Vents and Exhaust Hose

If your dryer has been leaving your clothing damp after a full drying cycle, this is a good time to check for lint accumulation in other places and clean out the other vents to avoid a lint fire.

Unplug the dryer.
Remove the exhaust hose from the wall. There will probably be a circular clamp around it that can be removed by squeezing, or there will be a bolt that is easily loosened with a screwdriver. If you have a gas-powered dryer, it’s a good idea to call a professional because moving the machine may cause a gas leak.
Clean out the exhaust hose with a cleaning rod or vacuum.
Check the vent outside your home by taking off the screen outside and vacuuming or brushing out accumulated lint. Then put the screen back in place.

If this does not solve your drying problem, you can also take the panel off the back of the dryer and vacuum or dust off all visible parts. Once this is done and the dryer is put back together, plug it in and do a quick cycle to ensure everything is functioning correctly. Making these things part of your regular cleaning routine is the best way to keep your home safe from a lint fire and ensure your dryer works well for as long as possible.