Clean your dryer vent line
Clogged dryer vents cause most dryer fires. They also make your dryer work twice as hard for half the result.
What you'll learn
- Why a clogged vent is the #1 cause of the 'my dryer takes two cycles' complaint
- How to check the exterior vent hood (and what lint buildup there means)
- When you can DIY vs. when the wall run needs a pro with a rotary brush kit
- Why you should never use the plastic flex vent (UL 2158A steel-flex only)
Step by step
- Unplug the dryer and shut off the gas valve (if gas dryer).
- Pull the dryer out and disconnect the vent hose from the back.
- Use a long dryer-vent cleaning brush to sweep the hose, then the wall run.
- Vacuum loose lint at both ends.
- Reconnect, push the dryer back, run a quick test cycle.
Wall runs over 20 feet with multiple elbows need a rotary brush on a drill, DIY usually means hiring or calling a pro. If lint comes out darkened or damp, schedule a full professional cleaning.
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Keep learning.
Clean your refrigerator condenser coils
Dust-covered coils force the compressor to run longer, raising your power bill and cutting fridge life by years.
Check and replace washing machine supply hoses
Rubber supply hoses burst at the 5-7 year mark. A burst hose can dump 650 gallons an hour into your laundry room. Replacing them is a 20-minute job.
Clean your dishwasher filter
If dishes come out spotty or gritty, the filter at the bottom is clogged. Takes 5 minutes to clean.