Appliances · fix it
Dryer very hot? Here's what to do first
A lint-packed vent is the top cause of slow drying and a leading cause of laundry fires. This is a 30-minute job once a year.
DIY with caution
Doable for a careful homeowner — read the safety note first and stop if anything doesn't match what you see.
Beginner About 30 min
On a gas dryer, do not move the appliance far enough to strain the gas line. Smell gas? Leave and call your gas utility.
Video: Ace Hardware (YouTube)
What to do, in order
- Step 1: Unplug the dryer (turn off the gas valve on a gas dryer) and pull it out from the wall.
- Step 2: Loosen the clamp and pull the duct off the back of the dryer.
- Step 3: Run a vent brush through the duct and the wall pipe, then vacuum both ends.
- Step 4: Go outside and clear the exterior vent hood so the flap opens freely.
- Step 5: Reconnect with a clamp, push the dryer back leaving a few inches, and run 10 minutes on air-fluff.
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This page also helps with
- clothes take two cycles to dry
- burning smell from dryer
- dryer vent clogged