Improve the Lifespan of your Clothes Dryer

Most of the problems in a dryer are caused by poor air circulation inside of the dryer. The dryer will suck air from the outside, pass it through the heating source, and then through the clothes to dry them. When the exhaust air is restricted due to a kinked hose, a bad blower wheel, or a hose full of lint, the dryer will use a lot of energy to try to dry the clothes. Sometimes the user will need to run the dryer two times to get the laundry dry. If you are having problems with your dryer taking too long to dry the clothes, check the exhaust hose to see if that is the cause of your problem.

Steps

  1. Disconnect the hose from the dryer and use the dryer for a couple loads. If the clothes are being dried properly with the hose disconnected, the problem is on the hose, between behind the dryer to the outside of the house. Do not perform this test if you are using a gas dryer.
  2. Remove and make sure that the hose is clean or install a new hose.
  3. After installing the hose, turn the dryer on regular and go outside and make sure that you get a good air flow to the outside.

Tips

  • One of the best ways to attach your hoses to the dryer is to use NASHUA approved, metal-foil type duct tape. (the heat cycling from running the drying will quickly dry out standard duct tape and cause it to peel off.)
  • There is no such thing as an EnergyStar-rated clothes dryer, but you can improve the efficiency of your dryer and extend its life.
    • Use the moisture sensor option to avoid over-drying clothes.
    • Hang clothes to dry for all or part of the process.
    • Use the highest appropriate spin setting on your washer to extract excess water before clothes reach the dryer.
    • Put a large dry bath towel in with your wet clothes to speed drying.
    • Clean the lint trap before each use, and for long drying times, clean it out halfway.
    • If you use dryer sheets, remove your lint trap and wash with soap and water occasionally. The sheets will leave a waxy coating on the metal lint screen, and the lint will slide off and not be caught on the trap.
    • Several times a year, take your shop-vac and vacuum the air outflow grill inside the dryer drum...often wet lint will accumulate on the grill inside the dryer. While you have the vacuum there, take out the lint trap and vacuum inside there as well. Go outside and ensure the outside vent opens freely and remove any accumulated lint, spider webs, etc.
    • It is also a good idea to have your dryer duct professionally cleaned annually, or more frequently if you use your dryer more than an average household.

Warnings

  • If at ANY point you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, stop your work immediately.
  • NEVER vent a dryer indoors unless for testing purposes, even if it is an electric dryer. The exhaust contains high levels of lint, which will just create a mess, and water, which can cause mold and other problems in your home. Using an indoor dryer venting kit, which can be found at many hardware stores, is also not advisable.
  • Never use plastic or vinyl ducting for your dryer. It is unsafe because a lint fire will also catch the ducting on fire. It is especially dangerous to use plastic or vinyl with a gas dryer since they operate at much higher temperatures.
  • If your dryer continues to operate poorly, or if you notice smoke, flames, sparks, or other dangerous conditions when operating your dryer, STOP your work. If it is safe to do so, disconnect the dryer from it's power source, either at the electrical outlet or at the dryer's circuit breaker in your electrical panel. If your dryer utilizes gas, shut off the gas flow to the dryer if it is safe to do so. Call a licensed appliance repairman to troubleshoot your dryer. If you see smoke, flames, or sparks, call 911 from a neighbor's phone or a cell phone AFTER evacuating the building.
  • Lint accumulations in the dryer duct will not just decrease efficiency, they're a fire hazard, too. Make a point to clean them out annually, perhaps when you change your clocks in spring.
  • Disconnecting the dryer vent from the dryer and running loads is NOT SAFE with a gas dryer - this is the exhaust for the toxic fumes produced by the gas flame. Venting them into the house can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Skip this step and move onto Step 2 - making sure the hose is clean, or replacing it.

Things You'll Need

  • Dryer duct (metal)
  • Vacuum Cleaner or Wet/Dry Vacuum
  • Soap and water

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References

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