How Often Do You Need the Dryer Exhaust Cleaned

Finally, have you got time to clean the dryer exhaust you have planned to clean for months? If it has been a year, you should probably clean it immediately.

Although it entirely depends on the usage time and the dryer model you are using. The average wait period should not exceed 12 months. Repeat the cleaning every 10 months.

However, if you notice signs like delayed drying time, abnormal vibrations, etc., it’s your call to clean it as soon as possible.

We will outline why you must follow a deep cleaning routine every 10 months and discuss the three most efficient ways to clean your exhaust perfectly.

5 Signs To Clean Your Dryer Now

Let’s quickly dive into all the signs that indirectly tell you to clean your exhaust immediately:

1. The Drying Starts To Take More Time Than Usual

The average drying time is about forty to forty-five minutes for all dryers. You will observe that the overall drying time will increase by a few minutes and then about thirty minutes within a few more months.

Initial changes are very minute and usually go unnoticed, but they can go up to an hour if you ignore the situation. This is the first change indicating it is time to get your vent rinsed.

2. You Notice Vibrations Getting Louder

Slight vibration is entirely normal, but loud or abnormal sounds and heavy vibrations that can make the machine move are not.

This is because of increased pressure due to clogged vents, and you should check the issue immediately.

3. The Dryer Becomes Hot Quickly After Starting

Unless there has been an abnormal increase in the usage and overloading of clothes in the machine, it should not overheat within at least the first six months.

This overheating will not only be felt on the outer body of the dryer, but you will also feel this in the clothes right after taking it out.

Put your hand a little distance from the vent and see if the air is too hot; this will confirm the problem.

4. An Unpleasant Smell of Fumes Coming From the Vent

Your laundry smelling like dirty socks might not be the issue, but if it smells like rusty metal or you sense a burning smell, it is a clear sign that there’s bad news, probably related to your exhaust.

This usually does not occur immediately, but when you are delaying the cleaning.

5. Clothes Fail To Dry Properly

If you notice that your clothes still are not completely dry enough to be directly put in the closet even after increasing the drying time, it is also one of the signs that your exhaust is functioning properly.

3 Best Ways To Clean Your Exhaust Dryer

Now that we’ve discussed why you should clean your exhaust roughly annually, it’s time to look deep into how to keep it clean:

1. Follow a Promising Cleansing Routine

You can start rinsing it with soap and water, use wire wool, polishers, and anti-rust protecting liquids or sprays.

Consider cleaning your exhaust when the previous cleaning exceeds ten months.

2. Use a Protective Coating

There are a lot of coating materials available in the market, and powdered coating is considered the safest and most durable; although it is more expensive but works wonders in the long run.

3. Avoid Overloading the Machine

Better safe than sorry! Before any of these signs appear or after you have done cleaning, make sure that you set a time limit for your dryer per week or month and do not overload; instead, run short cycles with a lesser load.

Takeaway

The only correct way to know precisely how often you need to clean your dryer exhaust is by noticing the signs appearing after a specific usage duration.

These signs include prolonged drying time taken by the machine, loud vibrations or other noticeable sounds, incomplete drying of the clothes, the bad rusty smell coming from the vent, overheating the dryer, etc.

The deeper you clean, the longer your machine’s lifespan will be. You will want to use a protective coating, avoid its overloading, and religiously follow a cleaning routine to make it last longer.