topic Re: Dryer vents in Community Chat

Dryer vents

hoosieroriginal — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 17:20:16 GMT

My dryer venting to the outside of my house came loose yesterday so I took the opportunity to clean it out with my vacuum. I was surprised how much had built up in a short period of time. My handyman put in a metal vent for me a couple of years ago. I really thought nothing would stick to the inside, but there was a lot of lint in it. Please take an opportunity to check and clean your dryer vents - it can prevent a house fire.

Re: Dryer vents

brii — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 17:24:54 GMT

I had a dryer fire a few years ago. My laundry room was on the second floor and vented out of the attic. The way the vent ran, lint was easily trapped.

I turned the dryer on and within 5 minutes smelled something burning and the fire alarm started going off. I knew it was the dryer. I ran in and stopped the dryer, got the kids, and ran out of the house.

I called the fire department. When I turned the dryer off, they told me I prevented a serious fire from getting out of control.

From then on, I always made sure to have the dryer vent cleaned every year. And I don't turn the dryer on and leave the house...

Re: Dryer vents

151949 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 17:30:35 GMT

A few months ago I noticed my dryer wasn't getting hot enough to dry the clothes and DH did not know what was wrong so we called his cousin who does appliance repairs for a living. He said the vent , which they put on the roof here, was filled with lint and he cleaned it out. Problem solved. My DH does pull the washer & dryer out at least once a year to clean behind them and at that time he cleans the vent out as best he is able - however, he doesn't get up on the roof to clean from that end. I suppose we will have to get someone to do that once a year or so from now on.

Re: Dryer vents

Nightowlz — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 17:43:47 GMT

We keep ours cleaned out since yes it can cause a fire. There has never been much in ours. I clean the filter in the dryer after each load. Some dryers have a smaller lint filter. Mine is one of those large long ones. Once when I was visiting my sister we saw lint coming out of hers. I told her she better clean it out before she burns her house down. She does lots of laundry every day.

Re: Dryer vents

151949 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:33:26 GMT

DH's cousin told me I should clean the filter after each load , which I already do , and to wash the lint catcher at least once a week with soap and water and let it dry before putting it back in the dryer, because I use dryer sheets and they can cause a build up in that screen, and it's easily removed by washing it regularly. So I do all my laundry in one day and when I'm done I wash the screen.

Re: Dryer vents

SeaMaiden — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:36:27 GMT

And the number one rule is to NEVER EVER run the Dryer when you are not home!

Re: Dryer vents

judy0330 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:47:23 GMT

I clean the vent each time I run the dryer and also have a professional cleaning once a year. We do not have a maintenance contract now but years ago when we had a dryer purchased from Sears and had the mainenance contract it included a yearly cleaning. That was the reason we chose to add the contract. Better safe than sorry.

Re: Dryer vents

shaggygirl — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 19:35:59 GMT

The dryer vent talk reminded me of something else that was happening to me for a good part of last summer, in case this should ever happen to any of you just relating it for your info. Everytime I went to use the dryer it was wet inside, some days so much that it actually created a little puddle. So I'm outside watering flowers one morning and I noticed that the flapper thing on the side of the house that opens when the hot air is expelled and then closes when the dryer stops running was stuck open a couple of inches. There was so much lint that had accumulated right around the opening that the flap couldn't close and it hit me that might be the problem so I cleaned it out good all around the opening so it could close and no more moisture in the dryer. I think what was happening is that the humidity in the hot summer air was flowing down the vent tube because of the flapper not closing due to all the accumulated lint.

Re: Dryer vents

SeaMaiden — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 20:07:59 GMT

@judy0330 wrote:
I clean the vent each time I run the dryer and also have a professional cleaning once a year. We do not have a maintenance contract now but years ago when we had a dryer purchased from Sears and had the mainenance contract it included a yearly cleaning. That was the reason we chose to add the contract. Better safe than sorry.

@judy0330 I agree! Sears has excellent maintenance contracts. I had always bought them in the past but, I worry now that they will be going out of business soon and I would not buy a contract now with that cloud looming over their head. Sears has been in financial woes for the past few yearsand things look pretty bleak.

Re: Dryer vents

kdgn — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 20:13:00 GMT

My dryer vents goes through the attic and out the top of the roof. I hired a company to clean the vent and they nearly filled the vac canister with lint. I clean the lint filter on the dryer after each use, clean the trap that's behind the dryer all the time and it still didn't prevent a lint buildup. I was told by the company that given the nature of how the venting was done that I should have it professionally cleaned every two years. I will do just that.

My previous setup had the dryer vent on the wall, leading directly to the great outdoors. No way that could ever collect dryer lint but the hose did so I would vacuum that once in a while.

I don't like this venting through the attic, not at all.

Re: Dryer vents

GCR18 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 22:40:17 GMT

I clean the filter after each use, but occasionally see lint coming out the vent. I guess I didn't know there were companies that cleaned it out. I'll have to check that out. Thanks for bringing this up.

Re: Dryer vents

kdgn — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 00:34:08 GMT

The company that cleaned mine was local and advertised cleaning air conditioner/heating vents. Their ad also included dryer vents-

Re: Dryer vents

Burnsite — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 02:37:48 GMT

My dryer is in the garage and has a 6 foot vent that end s a few feet away and blows into the garage.

Not ideal, but it's easy to monitor if it's working. I just have to dust off my ladders and saws when I need them.

If it vented into the attic, the occasional rats who stay up there would have access into the garage.