Keeping the dryer vent clean is important to the efficiency of your dryer.
What does a roof dryer vent look like.
Once the vent is exposed use a vent brush first clean the exterior surfaces.
Before you clean a dryer vent on the roof vacuum out the vent behind the dryer since it s easier to clean out the length of the vent from the ground floor.
An improperly installed rooftop dryer vent vs.
Dryer vent pipes properly called vent ducts come in a variety of materials.
Most dryer ducts are round and 4 inches in diameter.
Some are flexible and others are rigid.
Second during cold winters you ll be blowing warm moist air onto a cold surface the roof vent and roof plywood.
If you re tempted to vent your exhaust fan through an existing roof vent or even vent it into the attic don t do it.
First you ll partially block your roof vent with the piping reducing the flow of cooling air through your attic.
Considering that back pressure higher than 6 wci is generally recognized as inefficient you can see that venting through the roof with non dryer specific vents is immediately problematic.
Then get on the roof and peel back any shingles that may be covering the vent as well as the guard.
Because all types are sold for use with dryers you would naturally assume that all are suitable for this application.
The first thing that we will do when cleaning a dryer vent that is vented through the roof is to disconnect the dryer and clean the inside vent.
This can cause the dryer to work harder and take longer to dry the clothes resulting in breakdown of the dryer and higher electric bills.
Once this step is done we will proceed to cleaning the vent on the roof.
Commercial vacuums are used to suck up as much lint and debris as possible from the inside.
If lint gets through the trap it can slowly clog the vent preventing the hot air and moisture from leaving the house.
The less back pressure is created by the roof vent the more efficiently the system performs.
It s always a good idea to inspect the termination port of the dryer duct along with the wall or roof cap.
A properly installed dryer vent.
Cord werner well you can vent out the roof which is becoming a more common practice.
Locating and accessing the vent.
Birds tend to build their nests in these and they may become clogged by other means.
Check for the proper exit velocity of the air escaping the vent and try to look and feel the interior walls of the duct.