If you’re not hanging the laundry on the clothes line on these fine June days, improve the functioning and safety of your dryer by cleaning the dryer vent.
The dryer vent is not the lint screen, which should be cleaned with every load. It’s the system that vents the hot air from the dryer to the outside.
Especially in the summertime when you’re running your air conditioner, you’ll want your dryer operating as little as possible. When your clothes are taking an inordinately long time to dry or come out hotter than usual, your dryer vent may be plugged up with lint. Not only is this a troublesome waste of electricity, it’s a fire hazard.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 15,500 fires, 10 deaths and 10 injuries are associated with the dryer vent every year. Several hundred people a year are also subjected to carbon monoxide poisoning from improper dryer vent setups.
You may be able to clean it yourself. If it is a short trip from the dryer to the outside, a homeowner can disconnect, clean and inspect the dryer duct run. Making sure the dryer isn’t on, stick your hand in there and remove excess lint. Use a lint brush or vacuum attachment to remove accumulated lint.
Additionally, have a qualified service technician take the dryer apart every two or three years and thoroughly clean the cabinet.
Be safe and never run your clothes dryer when you’re out of the house or worse, asleep. If all else fails, use the old-fashioned clothesline – one of those has never caused a house fire!