Dryer Vent Cleaning Equipment

Clothes dryers cause as many as 15,000 fires a year, according the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the main cause of those fires is lint build-up in the vent pipes. It's therefore vitally important to keep the vents clean, but you can typically access only a small portion of the vents from either end. Dryer cleaning professionals use a variety of tools and methods to extend their reach inside lint-clogged vents.

Diagnosing Blocked Vents

If you don't regularly clean your dryer vents, the buildup can become severe enough to affect the operation of the dryer. You can't always gauge the extent of the buildup by looking inside the vents, because the lint may be collecting deep inside. The dryer will tell you about the blockages, however, because it will take longer to dry your clothes than usual or, in severe cases, may not get them dry at all. Moreover, it will feel hot to the touch while it is operating, and you probably won't feel much air coming from the vent opening.

Clearing Lint with a Dryer Brush

A dryer brush is similar to a chimney cleaning brush, but its bristles aren't as stiff and it's attached to a flexible cable, much like the head of a plumbing auger. You use it by feeding it into one end of the vent and pushing it as far as it will go while you rotate the handle. Some brushes have drill attachments so you don't have to rotate them by hand. The brush pushes lint out of the opposite end of the vent, so it's a good idea to position a helper there with a bag.

Using a Compressed Air Jet-Snake

Some cleaning companies use a jet-snake, which they feed into the vent like a dryer brush. Instead of bristles, the jet-snake has a tapered head with holes through which compressed air emerges. The compressed air functions like bristles, clearing lint off the walls of the vents and pushing it toward the other end of the vent. The snake is flexible enough to feed through two or three bends in the vent pipe, which is the maximum number of bends most vents should have. It's even more important to hold a bag to the other end of the pipe when using a jet-snake, because the compressed air blows the lint out under force.

Alternative Cleaning Tools and Methods

In cases of severe lint buildup, it may take more than one cleaning method to clear it. After disconnecting both ends of the duct with a screwdriver and using a jet-snake or brush, some professionals blow out loose lint with a leaf blower or feed in the hose from a wet/dry vacuum cleaner and suck it out. If the build-up has progressed to the point where this becomes necessary, it may be time to consider retrofitting the duct. Corrugated duct pipe collects lint, and should be replaced with smooth pipe. Moreover, any horizontal dips should be straightened, because they are repositories for lint.