How to Clean Out a Dryer Vent Hose

Dryers require an outlet for hot exhaust air to escape. Often times this means that a vent hose is connected to the exhaust pipe of a dryer. The hose then connects to either a wall mounted vent or to a pipe that runs to an outer wall or to the roof.

Even though dryers do have lint traps and screens in place to trap lint, fabric particles, and dust; sometimes lint gets through the exhaust pipe. Over time lint clumps can dangerously build up inside the vent hose, vent housing, and vent pipe. Less and less hot air can escape. Not only can this potentially damage your clothes and the dryer it can present a fire risk due to overheating.

Proper and regular cleaning of the vent hose is crucial for home safety and continued drying ability of your dryer. It is recommended that you clean lint out of the vent hose and system every 6 to 12 months. Cleaning kits are available to make the cleaning process safe and easy.

How to clean out lint from a dryer vent hose

Unplug the dryer from the wall outlet. Never attempt to work on the dryer while it is plugged in or running.

Use a screwdriver to loosen the clamp screw on the clamp holding the vent hose to the back of the dryer exhaust pipe. Carefully slide the vent hose off of the exhaust pipe.

Use a vent hose cleaner brush to sweep out lint collected inside the exhaust pipe. Use the cleaner brush to get lint out of the vent hose.

Connect a dryer vent pipe cleaning rod to a power drill. Connect the kit cleaning hook to the end of the rod. Using the power drill turned on, run the hook carefully through the hose and exhaust vent pipe. Slowly pull it out to catch clumps of lint.

Attach the auger style cleaning brush to the end of the rod and reinsert the rod through the hose and exhaust vent pipe going out the wall or up to the roof. Keep the drill running as you carefully move the rod through the piping.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a long hose attachment to suck out stubborn lint build ups. When finished reconnect the exhaust vent hose to the exhaust pipe on the back of the dryer. Remember to clean out the lint traps on the dryer after each dryer use.