Cleaning a dryer vent from the inside is done with a rotary or flexible-rod vent brush: unplug the dryer, pull it forward, disconnect the duct, and work the brush from the wall opening toward the outside before clearing the exterior hood. Once a year is the usual interval, sooner if clothes take noticeably longer to dry or the outside flap barely opens while the dryer runs.
Time: about 1 hour · Difficulty: Moderate · You'll need: a dryer vent brush kit with flexible rods, a vacuum, a screwdriver or nut driver, foil tape or clamps, a helper (helpful), gloves, safety glasses
Before you start
- •Unplug the dryer. For a gas dryer, move it gently and never disconnect, bend or strain the gas line. If the gas connector looks kinked or damaged, or you smell gas, stop, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
- •Use only a brush kit made for dryer vents, and use a drill only if the kit says it's designed for one.
- •Skip roof-mounted or very long vent runs. Those are a job for a vent professional.
Steps
Step 1 — Pull the dryer out
Slide the dryer forward slowly so you can reach the duct, watching the power cord and, on gas models, the gas connector.
Step 2 — Disconnect the duct
Loosen the clamp or foil tape and pull the transition duct off the dryer's exhaust outlet and the wall connection.
Step 3 — Brush from the inside
Feed the brush into the wall duct, adding rod sections as you go, and rotate it in the direction the kit specifies so the rods don't unscrew. Work toward the exterior in short passes.
Step 4 — Pull out and vacuum
Withdraw the brush slowly, pulling lint back toward you, and vacuum it up as it comes out. Repeat until passes come back mostly clean.
Step 5 — Clear the exterior hood
Go outside and remove lint from the vent hood and the flap or louvers. Make sure the flap opens and closes easily, and remove any bird or rodent nesting carefully with gloves.
Step 6 — Clean the dryer outlet
Vacuum the dryer's exhaust outlet and the short section of transition duct. If the transition duct is white vinyl or flimsy, crushed foil, replace it with metal; see how to replace a dryer vent hose.
Step 7 — Reconnect and test airflow
Reconnect the duct with clamps or foil tape, push the dryer back without crushing it, and run the dryer on air or heat. You should feel strong airflow at the outside hood.
Didn't fix it?
If airflow stays weak, the duct may be crushed inside a wall or have too many bends, which a vent professional can address. Long dry times with good airflow can point to a heating or sensor problem. A dryer that shuts off mid-cycle, runs hot, or smells like burning should be turned off and seen by our dryer repair team.
How often to do this
Once a year is a common recommendation for most homes. Large households, pet owners and homes with long duct runs may need it more often.
From Kevin: I see exterior flaps packed shut with lint far more often than people expect. Check yours from outside with the dryer running: no breeze means no proper exhaust.
Concerned about your vent? Call ProFix NJ at (973) 718-9373.