I snaked my clothes dryer vent!

[vash]

My dryer was occasionally throwing a code indicating an exhaust restriction.
I shop vac the machine on the regular with a thin silicon tube taped to my shop vac hose.

Hmmm. I disconnect the vent hose and it’s fairly clean. then I peeked into the duct run. Holy krappolla! It wasn’t plugged, but it had buildup on the sides the full length. Mine exhausts out the roof.

I called my bud at my local Ace store. He suggested a brush to send into the ductwork while being spun by my drill. The amount of crap that came out was extraordinary! I then went in the roof and snaked it in the other direction. My eyes got dust, my nasal passages got dust, it was in my throat, and I should have put on work clothes.

This is now in my regular routine of crap I haven’t do around the house. Easy enough.

That has to be a fire hazard! Sorry. No pics. It was gross.

[Deschodt]

I took out the flaps on the outside and used my blower on mine ;-) It resulted in quite a spectacle per the kids who were looking at what came out. Also found more inside the dryer (by vent on the rear of the machine, and by lint filter on front, some unscrewing of the filter holder and a slim shop vac helped). Thought we needed a new dryer. Nope.

[masraum]

We downsized and lived in nice apartments near downtown for several years. The maintenance folks came around once a year with a brush on a drill and a leaf blower. I remember being outside once while they were cleaning a vent and it looked like a localized snow storm. And our vents were a straight horizontal shot to the outside wall.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I took out the flaps on the outside and used my blower on mine ;-) It resulted in quite a spectacle per the kids who were looking at what came out. Also found more inside the dryer (by vent on the rear of the machine, and by lint filter on front, some unscrewing of the filter holder and a slim shop vac helped). Thought we needed a new dryer. Nope.

Good idea, checking out the inside of the dryer.

[jyl]

Hmm . . . something to do this weekend, what fun!

[911 Rod]

A match is quicker.
I wonder if not cleaning the dryer's vent too often would reduce this as maybe it lets too much through when clean?
I have to pull out the dryer and crawl behind the hot water tank. Crappy job.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I took out the flaps on the outside and used my blower on mine ;-) It resulted in quite a spectacle per the kids who were looking at what came out. Also found more inside the dryer (by vent on the rear of the machine, and by lint filter on front, some unscrewing of the filter holder and a slim shop vac helped). Thought we needed a new dryer. Nope.

That's exactly what I do. My backpack blower (I have access to the dryer vent in my garage for cleanout) really sends the lint dust flying.

[Tidybuoy]

I'm planning on cleaning out my duct at some point soon. Mine exits up the wall into the attic and then out the side of the house. My theory is that since I have the bug/critter guard on the outside of the house, this could cause some restriction and therefore cause some clogging.

[Tobra]

Wear a mask amd eye protection Vash

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I took out the flaps on the outside and used my blower on mine ;-) It resulted in quite a spectacle per the kids who were looking at what came out. Also found more inside the dryer (by vent on the rear of the machine, and by lint filter on front, some unscrewing of the filter holder and a slim shop vac helped). Thought we needed a new dryer. Nope.

I’ve done the same thing, redneck duct cleaner. Our too smart dryer kept throwing codes so we replaced it with a cheapo Hotpoint that doesn't have a single computer or sensor, problem solved!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I’ve done the same thing, redneck duct cleaner. Our too smart dryer kept throwing codes so we replaced it with a cheapo Hotpoint that doesn't have a single computer or sensor, problem solved!

Nice! Old fashioned FTW, knob for temp/time and button to start!

[911boost]

I’ve used the brush attached to a drill method before. Then I let someone borrow it and of course never got it back.

Like you said, I was shocked!!! And I am super anal about cleaning out the lint trap every single time.

[JavaBrewer]

Much easier if you live, like me, in a single level home. Wash/Dry is in the garage and the dryer vent is max 3' to the exterior. Every few months I look through and take my shop vac/blower to clear. We did live in a 2 story home with the laundry on the second level and it was a PITA to keep up with. Easy washing/drying process as all the bedrooms were on the same level. But the vent pipe was not easy to deal with.

[stevej37]

These types of vent tubes cause buildups inside....get the solid smooth ones (like a furnace duct)

[porsche930dude]

So weird literaly 15 minutes ago I picked up my neighbors dryer because he got a new one complaining the old one didnt vent well enough. Its super fancy electrolux with steam and everything. Free is for me. He said the vent is clean. Who am I to argue. I knew a few people who had dryer fires they were quite traumatized by it. One guy wouldnt own a dryer anymore just had a clothes line in the basement. Long runs are bad and so are those nylon flex hoses. I dont think they even sell them anymore.

[chrismorse]

Originally Posted by stevej37

These types of vent tubes cause buildups inside....get the solid smooth ones (like a furnace duct)

Two problems with the corrugated stuff, 1) it loses heat and the moisture condenses and holds the lint, 2) The rough surface promotes adhesion.

If possible, slope the pipe downward, not up, to promote drainage.

I have found that 4 inch sewer/drain PVC pipe used to vent the dryer needs a lot less cleaning.

I was amazed at the amount of lint that i got out of a 4 foot section of flex pipe, using a drill powered brush to clean it out.

No substitute for daily cleaning of the dryer screen filter.

[wildthing]

Might as well do the HVAC ducts while you're at it.

[berettafan]

Not a fun job. I actually went under my house and pulled all the tubing to clean it out.

[juanbenae]

That reminds me, I need to flush my tankless water heater...

[greglepore]

Houses have been known to burn down due to clogged dryer ducts. Hence the sensors on the dryers.