When you talk about the safety and efficiency of your clothes dryer, there is nothing more vital than the right dryer vent hose.  This seemingly innocuous piece of piping not only keeps your dryer in top running condition, but it also prevents overheating and dangerous house fires.  If you are installing a new dryer or feel that your old dryer just isn’t performing the way it used to, you need to take a long, hard look at your venting hose and make sure that it is made of the right materials, properly constructed and installed, and in one hundred percent clean.

Dry vent hoses can be found in a number of different materials.  However, just because the store stocks certain hoses doesn’t mean that you should use them.  Look only for materials that are UL approved.  This means that the Underwriters Laboratories, the leading firm in testing product consumer compliance, has given the product a seal of approval for adhering to safety measures.  There are only three types of dry vent hoses that are UL approved.  You can get rigid piping made from either steel or aluminum, or you can get flexible spiral wound aluminum hosing.  Many people try to cut corners by purchasing white vinyl hoses, but vinyl can collect humidity and lint thereby leading to a dryer fire.  Vinyl vent hoses are not UL approved.

After you have purchased your aluminum or steel dryer vent hose, the next thing to do is to properly install it on the back of your dryer.  As the name suggests, vent hoses are used to vent hot and humid air out of the back of your dryer.  The key to a safe hose is to make sure that the hot air and lint particles are vented outside as quickly and easily as possible.  Any obstruction to this venting and you can get a buildup of lint that can ignite.  The first step to safe venting is to make sure you are using the quickest route to the outside.  Don’t make any unnecessary runs and elbows and position your dryer as close to the outlet as possible.  Also, remove anything from the inside of the hose that could potentially collect lint.  That means connecting rigid pipes with tape rather than with screws.

As you use your dryer, the dryer vent hose will naturally start to accumulate some deposits of lint and humidity.  Depending on your climate and the amount of laundry you do, you could even get small buildups of mold or mildew in your vent hose.  Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that you clean out your vent at least once a year.  However, if you notice that your dryer is taking longer to complete a load or gets really hot while it is running, you should clean out your dryer vent, or get it cleaned out by a professional dryer cleaner as quickly as possible.

The right aluminum or steel dryer vent hose that has been properly installed and maintained should ensure that your dryer will run effectively and safely for years to come.

Home | Contact | About Us | Privacy Policy | Sitemap