Go green, save money, and prevent fires in one fell swoop by vacuuming out your dryer ducts at least twice a year. Clogged dryer ducts reduce airflow, causing your clothes to take longer to dry, gobbling energy, and raising the temperature inside your dryer. But that’s not the worst of it—lint-filled ducts can also cause fires. In 1998, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that clothes dryers were associated with 15,600 fires, 20 deaths, and 370 injuries.
Keep your family safe and go green by vacuuming your dryer ducts regularly. Start with the lint trap inside your dyer. Using a wet/dry vacuum with a hose, suck out any visible lint inside the trap. Then disconnect the duct from behind the dryer. Insert the vacuum’s wand into the hose and remove as much lint as possible.
While you’re cleaning your dryer, it’s also a good idea to inspect the exhaust hood on the exterior of your home. To make sure everything is working properly, inspect it while you have clothes in the dryer. The flaps should be moving smoothly, without any restrictions.
Spot a problem? Have a qualified service technician come take a look at it. Or for a more thorough inspection, have the technician clean the dryer ducts and the inside of the dryer for you.
Until next time,
The Home Know-It-All
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