How to Check Venting

To Check Venting:

Is the exhaust vent or outside exhaust hood clogged with lint and restricting air movement?

A clogged exhaust vent system slows moist air from leaving the dryer and extends drying time. Run the dryer for 5-10 minutes. Hold your hand under the outside exhaust hood to check air movement. If the air movement is less than a hair dryer on high speed, clean the lint from the entire length of the system and the exhaust hood.

• Replace any plastic or metal foil vent with rigid or flexible heavy metal vent.

• Lint should be removed from the entire length of the system every 2 years or more often, depending on dryer use.  

• Make sure that the outside exhaust hood is free of debris and that the louvers or flapper door easily open and close. Box or louvered hoods are recommended.

Is the exhaust vent kinked, smashed or crushed?

Kinked or crushed exhaust vent material slows moist air from leaving the dryer and extends drying time. Replace any plastic or metal foil vent with rigid or flexible heavy metal vent. The dryer vent should be installed 4" away from the wall.

Watch the video below on how to check for crushed vent material (note that the video uses a standard dryer, but connecting the vent is the same).

Are you using the right type of vent?  

Use only rigid metal or flexible metal vent material.

Is the dryer in a new location or is this a new installation? Is there a new exhaust vent system?

If you connected your new dryer to an old vent system, you may have a restriction in the old vent. Clean the vent from the back of the dryer to where it exits your house. If you are unable to do so, contact a professional vent/duct cleaning company.

The exhaust vent system may be too long or have too many turns. Heavy rigid metal vent material and boxed or louvered exhaust hoods allow for the longest exhaust vent systems. Use the fewest number of elbows for the best airflow. Your installation should not have more than 4 elbows. Each additional elbow in the system reduces the amount of vent material length the system can have for good air movement. See the Installation Instructions for more details on maximum exhaust vent system lengths.

The vent system chart below provides venting requirements that will help achieve best drying performance.

• Replace any plastic or metal foil vent with a rigid or flexible heavy metal vent.

• Use only 4" diameter heavy metal exhaust vent material. Larger or smaller diameter material will reduce good air movement and cause longer drying times.