is a native to Southern California and a Realtor® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties in Santa Barbara. If there are any subjects that you would like me to cover, please contact me at 805.720.5362. Most REALTORS® really do care about their clients and genuinely want to help everyone in our community. I realize that this week’s article is not really “real estate” related, however I try to share helpful hints as well as real estate subjects in the hope of saving my readers time, money and to show that REALTORS® are more than just out to make a sale and a buck. Please take the short amount of time it will take to safeguard your belongings, your home, and your family. These are simple tips to help prevent a potentially catastrophic emergency that could result with you losing your home. Carefully reattach the dryer vent with screws, clips, or aluminum tape.ĩ. Check the dryer duct for any cracks or tears and replace the duct if damaged.Ĩ. Clean the floor around the dryer to get rid of debris.ħ. Shake out loose lint and use a vacuum cleaner and tools to remove the remaining lint from the ductĦ. Detach the duct, the wide tube that sends the dryer exhaust outside.Ĥ. Unplug the dryer or turn off the gas supply.ģ. These 10 steps will guide you through the process:ġ. At least once a year - or more if your machine is getting a real workout - you should give your dryer vent a good cleaning. This is one maintenance job you shouldn’t put off. #9 Not Cleaning the Dryer Vent Often Enough You can remove the lint, dryer-sheet chemicals, and other debris with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol so the sensor can do its job properly. The sensor is a thin metal bar often located right below the dryer door. So, you might as well do it while you’re working on the vent. While it has nothing to do with your actual vent, if your dryer has a moisture sensor, keeping it clean will help your dryer function efficiently. Stick to cleaning your dryer vent, and leave any major work, like rerouting the vent, to the pros. There’s only one place the exhaust should be going to maintain dryer vent safety, and that’s outdoors. Remember, the lint that accumulates in your dryer vent is flammable. ![]() #7 Routing the Vent Into an Attic or Crawlspace Better to use aluminum tape, which can take the dryer heat. It can corrode from the heat of the dryer. When you reattach the duct to the dryer, make sure there are no sharp turns or bends in the tube, which will create crevices for lint to accumulate and may lead to breaks.ĭespite its confusingly spot-on name, this is perhaps the only thing duct tape can’t do. Patching them up will help your dryer run optimally.ĭucts bend fairly easily when you handle them, which you’ll want to avoid. While you’re cleaning the duct, take the opportunity to go over its surface to check for cracks or tears. #4 Neglecting to Check the Duct for Damage While some basic equipment and DIY skills should work for most homes, it’s worth calling in a professional if your dryer has an especially long duct. #3 Attempting to Clean a Long Vent Yourself The Everbilt Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit, about $17, comes with attachments for cleaning long ducts. The Lint Lizard, about $30, attaches to the end of your vacuum cleaner and is very good at sucking up dryer debris. ![]() Tiny dryer lint fibers can cling to the walls of the duct, so it’s worth investing in equipment that does the job right. For gas-powered appliances, turn off the gas supply to prevent leaks. Safety first: One of the most important dryer-vent cleaning tips is to remove the machine’s power cord from the wall outlet to avoid getting shocked. Just avoid these dangerous mistakes while cleaning out your dryer vent: And if you don’t do it, your house could catch fire. ![]() ![]() Plus it will help your dryer lasts longer and more efficiently.Ĭleaning a dryer vent goes way beyond wiping off the lint filter between loads. Dryer fires are a real and very scary hazard, and they most often originate in the metal tube between your dryer and the wall.
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