Save on Heating Costs by Checking/Cleaning Your Dryer Exhaust Vent

I've previously suggested that a great way to save on heating costs is to make sure all air leaks from your house to the outside are caulked, covered, repaired, insulated and so on. In other words, you can save money on heating bills by making sure your home is sealed for the winter.

I was outside the other day doing some raking and caught a glimpse of our dryer's exhaust vent (it's about 6 feet high since our back yard slopes down from the first floor.) I noticed that the flap that opens when the dryer is on and (supposedly) closes when the dryer is off, was 3/4 of the way open -- and the dryer was NOT on. After a bit of feeling around, I found that lint had collected all around the flap and was keeping it propped open. I scooped out the lint with my fingers (it only took me a couple of minutes) and cleared the way -- the flap was able to return to its proper place.

As I did this, I thought what sort of impact it would have had this winter if the vent had remained 3/4 open. I'm sure we would have lost a good amount of heat from the vent and would have wasted a ton of energy as a result. So consider this a reminder that as you look around your house this fall to decide what to seal for the winter, be sure to check your dryer exhaust vent. Doing so could save you a few extra bucks!

Comments

[Adam]

In addition to checking your dryer vent at least once a year (as FMF said...it only takes a minute to clear out) it is equally important to get back behind your dryer and remove the tubing that releases the heat to the outside. Those can become clogged with lint, which will decrease the productivity of your dryer, which in turn requires the dryer to stay on longer.

Lint is the enemy of energy savings!

[MelMoitzen]

It's not a bad idea to do this just to clean out the lint, but you should also get in the habit of keeping the dryer door closed between uses; that serves as an additional seal (one you can easily control from inside your house) against any cold air that might come in through the outside vent.

If the air inside the drum feels noticeably cool when you open the dryer to load it, you know you've got a vent seal issue outside.

[Blaine Moore]

Yeah, I discovered that last winter.

It was fun trying to get the lint out when everything was frozen. Doing it while it's all thawed was probably a lot easier...

[Lin]

If you have that much lint around the outside, it's probably time to clean the rest of the vent. If the venting is too long to clean with a vacuum hose, call someone. The clothes will dry more quickly, saving you energy. It's also a potential fire hazard.
And while you're at it .. clean or replace the flexible tube from the dryer to the vent. (they're pretty inexpensive). Those clog like crazy, too.