The easiest way to keep your dryer running efficiently is to clean the lint trap and keep the vent clear.
If your dryer vent has not been cleaned in the past year it, probably needs it. This is a fairly easy process that anybody can do in about 30 minutes or so.
- Unplug the dryer from both gas and electric. (If a gas dryer, shut off the gas.)
- Pull the dryer out from the wall just to the extended length of vent tubing.
- Using a screwdriver, loosen the vent clamp on the back of dryer.
- Slide the vent off the dryer, remove any lint trapped inside by hand or with vacuum.
- Reach into the vent tubing and pull out any lint from there as well.
- Check the ends of the tubing. Most lint will build up at the ends. Be careful not to puncture the tubing which will cause leaks.
- Slide the clamp back over the vent and reattach. Slide the dryer back in place.
- Now go to the vent outside the house and remove the cover.
- Reach in as far as you can to clean out lint. A vacuum can be used here as well if needed.
- Now plug in the dryer (and turn on gas) then run the dryer on ‘air fluff’ for 10 minutes.
- Recheck the outside vent for any loose debris or obstructions and reattach the outside vent cover.
