FAQ
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Q: What is the biggest cause of fires involving dryer safety vents?
A: The leading cause of home clothes dryer and washer fires is failure to clean them. [Source: NFPA]
Q: How does a person handle a dryer cleaning?
A: Unplug the dryer and scoot the machine out from the wall. Disconnect the exhaust pipe-the thing that is horseshoe-shaped or looks like a giant snake (it's probably attached with a simple clamp and some screws). Remove as much lint as you can from the pipe and the part of the dryer it connects to, using a vent brush or a vacuum hose. Reattach the pipe, then head outside to a place where the vent comes through to the exterior wall and make sure there's nothing weird like a bird's nest clogging it. Also make sure the flap (or damper) opens and closes securely. Make sure there's no "cage" or chicken-wire screen covering the opening. If you discover a serious problem (or more dirt and debris than you can handle), hire a pro to get the job done right. Look for a Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician at DRYERSAFETY.ORG. C-DET technicians test for air speed and pressure. [Source: Tim Reiher].
Q: Electric dryers don't always vent outside, right?
A: They are supposed to. They do make ventless dryers in the United Kingdom but in the U.S. they all have a vent. Codes say they have to vent to outside because of the amount of moisture. Yes, moisture. Ideally, your dryer exports the equivalent of a gallon of water with each load. [Source: Tim Reiher.]
Q: My dryer exhaust looks like a snake. Is that natural?
A: If that dryer exhaust duct inside the laundry room looks like a "snake," that should be worrisome. The more direct the exhaust duct, the better. Most dryers exhaust ports don't line up directly to the wall opening. You want as few curves as possible. [Source: Tim Reiher.]
A: The leading cause of home clothes dryer and washer fires is failure to clean them. [Source: NFPA]
Q: How does a person handle a dryer cleaning?
A: Unplug the dryer and scoot the machine out from the wall. Disconnect the exhaust pipe-the thing that is horseshoe-shaped or looks like a giant snake (it's probably attached with a simple clamp and some screws). Remove as much lint as you can from the pipe and the part of the dryer it connects to, using a vent brush or a vacuum hose. Reattach the pipe, then head outside to a place where the vent comes through to the exterior wall and make sure there's nothing weird like a bird's nest clogging it. Also make sure the flap (or damper) opens and closes securely. Make sure there's no "cage" or chicken-wire screen covering the opening. If you discover a serious problem (or more dirt and debris than you can handle), hire a pro to get the job done right. Look for a Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician at DRYERSAFETY.ORG. C-DET technicians test for air speed and pressure. [Source: Tim Reiher].
Q: Electric dryers don't always vent outside, right?
A: They are supposed to. They do make ventless dryers in the United Kingdom but in the U.S. they all have a vent. Codes say they have to vent to outside because of the amount of moisture. Yes, moisture. Ideally, your dryer exports the equivalent of a gallon of water with each load. [Source: Tim Reiher.]
Q: My dryer exhaust looks like a snake. Is that natural?
A: If that dryer exhaust duct inside the laundry room looks like a "snake," that should be worrisome. The more direct the exhaust duct, the better. Most dryers exhaust ports don't line up directly to the wall opening. You want as few curves as possible. [Source: Tim Reiher.]