Content

• To step
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

If the exhaust of your exhaust air dryer hasn't been cleaned in the past two years, it is high time. How do you clean it?

To step

1. Remove the plug from the wall socket.
2. Position your dryer so that you have good access to the ventilation opening.
3. Detach the drain pipe. This can be done with a screwdriver or by loosening the clips, depending on the brand of dryer.
4. Remove the drain tube from the tumble dryer.
5. Reach your hand as far as possible into the tumble dryer vent and remove as much lint as possible. You can also use a vacuum cleaner for this.
6. Now you clean the drain pipe. This can be done in the same way.
7. Most lint will be at the beginning and end of the drain tube. If there is a lot of fluff in the middle, you can use a drain cleaner to remove the fluff. The hose of the vacuum cleaner also goes a long way.
8. Reattach the drain tube to the dryer and put the dryer back in place.
9. If you have a wall feed-through or window grille for the dryer, remove and clean it as well. This may mean that you have to remove any sealant that is present (this can be done with a Stanley knife) or unscrew everything. There may be a collar on the grille, pull everything straight out at once.
10. Again, thoroughly clean the inside of the opening with the vacuum cleaner. Rich in as far as possible with the vacuum cleaner hose.
11. Take a good look inside to make sure you haven't missed anything.
12. Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.
13. Run the dryer for 10 minutes on the cold program (air only), so that any loosened fluff left behind is blown out. Do not stand directly in front of the opening.
14. Check again from the outside that everything is clean. Clean the grid and put everything back in place.

Tips

• There are special tools on the market to clean the drain pipe from end to end. It is basically a flexible handle with a brush attached to it. This is the best way to clean long plumbing pipes. They have a 4 meter long flexible handle, can be connected to a rechargeable drill and have different types of brushes.
• If you are cleaning the filters, you can also remove the panel on the front of the dryer and clean it there. Also take a good look at the area around your fluff filters.
  • If the outlet tube of your dryer is very long, has several bends and you have a leaf blower, you can connect the leaf blower and the discharge tube with a special connecting piece. You can find these spacers at the PVC pipes in the hardware store. You can connect everything properly with a few clamps. Turn on the blower and you will be amazed at how much lint is still coming out of the drain tube after cleaning it as described above. Some vacuum cleaners can also blow. If you can't find a standard spacer to use, you might be able to improvise one.
• Tumble dryer outlet location: In most cases, the shortest, straightest way out will determine where the tumble dryer outlet goes out. Unfortunately, windows, doors or heating are often in the way. In most rental houses, the exhaust is generally hung out through a window. With a house for sale, you can have a fixed outlet in the wall or roof, taking into account the above obstacles. If your eaves cross far enough you could make an exhaust there.
• Always clean the fluff filter after you have used the dryer. This ensures that much less fluff ends up in the drain pipe and the dryer will then work as efficiently as possible.
• The drain of your dryer will always have to have an exit to the outside. Whether on the roof or in the wall.
• If you have a shop vacuum cleaner, they are ideal for cleaning the drain pipe. The diameter and length of the hose of this vacuum cleaner are perfect and the ridges in the hose ensure that the fluff in the exhaust tube comes loose. First, vacuum all the fluff out of the drain tube by vigorously moving the vacuum cleaner hose back and forth ... Then blow out the rest of the fluff and the drain tube will be just as clean as when you bought it.
• Types of exhaust caps: Roof, wall, eaves. The type of outlet cap can strongly influence the efficiency of your dryer and also determines how quickly the drain pipe fills with fluff. In many cases, only a timetable is used. It will then only take a few months before the grid is clogged with fluff. So keep a close eye on timetables. The type of canopy with slats does not prevent small birds from using the warm opening as a nesting place. And some hoods do not open wide enough or are designed inefficiently. In any case, a non-return valve is necessary.

Warnings

• Clean the drain pipe at least every two years. The remaining fluff can cause a fire.
• Carefully reach into the drain tube. There may be sharp edges and tips of screws on the inside. Pay attention. Use gloves and tools as much as possible.
• In some homes it is not possible to lead the exhaust pipe of your exhaust dryer outside. If this is the case, realize that all that moist air and the fluff that comes out of an exhaust dryer are very bad for your health. There is no single method to deal with this in a healthy way. You can find articles online that describe the unhealthy consequences of keeping the moist air and lint indoors. Mold, allergies, illnesses, paint peeling, accumulating dust ...In that case, rather look for alternatives, such as a condenser dryer, or have a recognized installer install a drainage channel to the outside.

Necessities

• Screwdriver
• Hose clamp screwdriver, open-end or socket wrench
• Garbage can or bag
• Cleaning spiral (optional)