Clogged Dryer Exhaust Ducts: 3 Mistakes to Avoid

To be effective, a dryer exhaust duct shouldn’t be clogged. If it is, the drainage of the water won’t be optimal, and the dryer will have a hard time doing its job. Do you want to take full advantage of your household appliances? Here are 3 mistakes that you should avoid if you want your dryer to keep working properly.

1 – Choosing an overly long hose

Have you decided to purchase a dryer, but the hose provided by the manufacturer doesn’t seem long enough? Be careful: you should definitely avoid installing a longer hose, even if the layout of the room doesn’t allow for the drainage of the water. In that case, you should choose another place for the dryer so that you can use a hose that is at most 2 metres long. If you don’t follow these instructions, the water will tend to condense, and your home will often be flooded. In addition, an overly long hose creates bends when it turns, and this can slow or even block the drainage. Finally, a long hose will be more exposed to the risks of clogging than a short hose.

2 – Installing the dryer in the wrong place

The dryer must be installed in a room with an area of at least 96 square feet. The air must be ventilated to avoid inconveniences. If you decide to put your dryer in a room that’s too small or poorly ventilated, or you don’t make sure that your equipment is placed on a perfectly level surface, you’ll undoubtedly have problems with your exhaust duct. Take care to clear the area around your dryer to prevent anything from falling on the hose or crushing it. To do this, you should install furniture to properly store your things around the dryer. In addition, check that children can’t get behind your equipment so that they don’t have the opportunity to step on the hose.

3 – Putting too much laundry in the dryer

Does your dryer seem to be struggling? Do you feel like it’s taking more time than usual to dry? It’s possible that the exhaust duct is clogged or that you’re putting too much laundry in the dryer. In the latter case, the hose is receiving far too much water at the same time and its diameter doesn’t allow for optimal drainage. You should therefore make sure to load your dryer reasonably. If you don’t take this precaution, you risk damaging your dryer and its hose.

Bonus: some things to check

Here is some information that will help you tell if your dryer exhaust duct is working properly. For better performance, the duct should ideally be:

• Made of metal, preferably smooth and rigid;
• Short (less than 2 metres long);
• Protected by an insulation sheath if it runs through an unheated space;
• Connected to an external vent (with a valve that opens when the dryer is working).

If you take the time to check that the hose is working properly and that it isn’t at risk of freezing, being crushed or blocked, or generating condensation, then the lifespan of your dryer will certainly be increased.

Does your dryer have weaknesses despite your inspections and interventions? Don’t hesitate to rely on a specialized company; that way, you may not need to replace your equipment, because the team from the company will definitely be able to repair your dryer and give you excellent advice for maintaining it.