Keeping Your Dryer's Air Duct System Clean

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If you recently moved out of an apartment into your first home, and you just purchased a new washing machine and dryer, you are most likely excited about the prospect in no longer dealing with laundromats or apartment complex appliances. Caring for your appliances with routine maintenance is necessary to keep them working as they should for as long as possible. One part of maintaining your dryer is the cleaning out of the air duct system. This will help keep the risk of fire at a minimum and will improve the efficiency of your unit. Here are some steps you can follow in keeping your dryer's air duct system clean.

Unhook Your Dryer And Prepare It For Cleaning

It is important that you disconnect your dryer from its energy source before you attempt to clean it out. This will minimize the risk of an injury during the clean-out process. Unplug your dryer from the wall and unplug the gas line from the back of the unit if necessary. Pull the unit out from the wall so you have an easy access to the entire back of the unit when you perform the air duct cleaning process. Remove the tubing that connects the dryer to the vent leading outdoors from the back of the dryer. This is usually kept in place via small clips. Simply pull them off the sides of the tubing.

Clean Out The Air Output Area Of Your Dryer

The spot where you had removed the tubing from your dryer will most likely need to be cleaned both inside and along the interior lip of the hole where the tube was attached. First, use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove any debris from the interior portion of your dryer. Make sure to hold the attachment slightly away from any interior components to reduce the risk of breaking them. After debris is removed from inside, use a piece of microfiber cloth dipped inside a mild detergent to wipe away grime from the hole in the back of the dryer where the vent is attached.

Clean Out The Tubing And Vent Screen

After your dryer is cleaned out, you will then need to clean out the tubing going to the exterior of your home. If there are obstructions in the tubing, it may be best to buy a new piece rather than taking the time to try to remove big gobs of fur, hair, or dust. If the debris is minimal, it can be removed using a vacuum cleaner attachment. Take the time to wipe down each end of the interior of the tubing with a mild detergent. The vent to the outdoors should also be cleaned with a detergent to remove any caked on dirt that accumulated between the slats. Use an old toothbrush to wipe off debris in this area.

For more information, contact local professionals or click here.


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