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Cleaning a Dryer Vent?

April 5, 2022

Detergent container leaked and spilled into dryer vent. The screen has been cleaned and a towel was run down the shaft. Detergent has drained out the back of the Kenmore dryer.

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The hose is disconnected. The dryer is propped at an angle to facilitate draining. What else needs to be done?

Answers


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
April 6, 20220 found this helpful

I would change the vent hose and use the dryer.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts
April 7, 20220 found this helpful

Inspect your vent hose for any residue, if you do not feel comfortable with this hose after the liquid spill, you could always purchase another one, but using it will help to dry and heat off the access.

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
April 10, 20220 found this helpful

I believe this may be a more serious problem than some may realize.
First: we do not know if your dryer is gas or electric but both use electricity. neither responds well if any wires etc. get wet and difficult to completely dry (can still have moisture after 6-7 days).

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According to the machine and the amount of liquid, there are times when your machine may need a real cleaning.
Due to the possibility of a hazardous problem, I'm not sure we are qualified to offer suggestions.

I would suggest that you find the brand and model number and contact the brand company for advice. Their support tech should be able to advise you. They will have diagrams of your model and can provide specific instructions on how to fix your problem.
It's possible you have done all that you need to do but, just in case, it may be a good idea to ask a professional for advice.

Here are links showing examples of responses to a similar question:
(I am NOT suggesting you ask THESE companies for help!)
www.justanswer.com/.../hwsi4-spilled-liquid-laundry-soap...

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www.fixya.com/.../t16088937-spilled_laundry_detergent_into_lint_trap

www.justanswer.com/.../253dn-spilled-liquid-laundry-detergent...

 
April 11, 20220 found this helpful

Many people complain about this problem. You definitely need to figure out why this happened. In many cases you can solve it yourself. I found a great site describing how to solve a leaking problem www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/.../3649-washing-machine-soap-drawers
If there is no physical damage or distorting of the drawer (the drawer will not fit correctly), then there are two reasons: either the incoming water pressure is too high causing water to spill over the top, the water cannot drain through the dispenser hose fast enough; or, something is blocking the flow of water.

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Turn the water pressure down a bit (there is the tap at the connection point for your washing machine).
If there is a blockage, then ascertain where it is. Inspect the detergent container. Check the dispenser hose is not blocked by undissolved detergent (it happens due to overdosing or low water pressure or poor quality detergent that doesn't dissolve well, this why all time watch the dose and using a good washing powder).
And you need to remove the filter housing assembly so you can clean it out (rinse it out and wipe it down to clean it)
www.justanswer.com/.../4f9en-detergent-spilled-dryer-vent...

 
April 11, 20220 found this helpful

The most frequent cause of leaking out of the detergent dispenser in Kenmore is a clog in the detergent dispenser housing or the hose from the dispenser to the tub.

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Unplug or de-energize electrical equipment before removing covers or attempting service, wear hand protection.
Pull the dispenser drawer out of the housing and check for an obstruction in the bottom of the housing. 
Clean the drawer thoroughly, including the siphon holes in the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Rinse it out with hot water, most likely there is a build up in the dispenser. 
Open the washer door and check for any items that may be stuck in the folds of the rubber door boot of the washer. Check the top left especially side - the side the dispenser is on. 
You are likely to have a restriction in the hose between the dispenser and the tub. You may need to access this hose and check for a clog. This is an advanced procedure, so if you are confident in your technical ability to safely access the hose then you may be able to find the cause of leaking from your dispenser. If you do not feel confident repairing this problem yourself, then you can have it repaired at your home by a Sears technician.

 
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3 More Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

June 24, 2007

Who do I call to clean out the vent from my gas dryer to the outside of the house? I can't do it myself as the dryer is in the middle of the house and the vent runs the length of the family room above the ceiling to the outside of the house. WHO does that sort of work? Thanks for any tips. I really need to have this done and have been postponing it for a long enough time that I'm nervous using it!



Mary Jo from St. Paul, Minnesota

Answers

By jean (Guest Post)
June 25, 20070 found this helpful

What about a company that cleans furnace and air conditioning duct work? They have the equipment needed for the job.

 
By Bob Dalimonte (Guest Post)
June 26, 20070 found this helpful

Call Dryer Vent Wizard 866-498-7233. They are the best.

 
By Janet (Guest Post)
June 26, 20070 found this helpful

I had the furnace duct cleaners in before I put my house on the market. I had them clean out my dryer vent while they were at it. It only cost me another $10 (on top of the furnace cleaning).

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Well worth the peace of mind, considering that the number one cause of house fires is the dryer. It was also another feature I could point out to potential buyers!

 
By Nancy in Florida (Guest Post)
July 5, 20070 found this helpful

Even though we live in Central Florida, we still have a fireplace we use during the coolest months. We have our chimney cleaned once a year, and he also does the dryer vent. You might try a chimney sweep!

 
By DEBRADJ. (Guest Post)
August 22, 20080 found this helpful

You need to call an appliance tech to do this. Most of them (at least my husband does) has a special device he uses that goes up into the vent system to clean it out without tearing the internal venting ducts. The best way to keep your vent clean it to clean the trap out of the dryer itself before and/or after every use.

 
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August 22, 2008

Does anyone know how to clean out your clothes dryer vent?

Leah from North Hollywood, CA

Answers

By DEBRADJ. (Guest Post)
August 22, 20080 found this helpful

The best way is to hire it done. The safest way is to let an appliance tech do it. My husband the appliance tech has a special tool designed to go into the internal vent system to clean it out carefully without detaching the vent itself. Always remember to clean the lint trap after each use and you won't have to have my husband out there cleaning the vent system.

 
August 22, 20080 found this helpful

You can buy a tool for about 10 dollars at most hardware stores or home improvement centers like Home Depot, Lowes etc. It is a long flexible thing (sort of like a drain cleaning snake) with a brush on the end.

 
August 22, 20080 found this helpful

Use your leaf blower hooked to the inside to blow out all the lint. Works every time.

 
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November 18, 2011

How do you make sure your dryer vent is not clogged up like a chimney? Should they be cleaned yearly?

By Sharon


Answers


Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 282 Feedbacks
November 21, 20110 found this helpful

Personally I liked to clean mine every few months. I always got enough lint out of there to scare the bejeeburs outta me! I use a clothes line now but was a bit fanatical about cleaning the hose and vent duct when I had a tumble dryer because I was really afraid of fire.

There are brushes you can buy at any d-i-y centre that go up the vent/hose and knock off the accumulated lint; you can also tape a dish mop to the end of the vacuum hose and send it in that way.

At least twice a year (at the very least) you should remove and inspect the vent hose, clean it and the duct work to the vent. The easiest ones to clean and replace are the rigid aluminum ones, those plastic things are super hard to clean, tear easily, and are dangerous. The aluminum foil ones are not much better than the plastic ones.

If you are really handy you can disconnect the machine from the wall and pull the back panel to clear the lint out of there, but be careful about static electricity sparking a fire. Read your owner's manual for specifics to your machine; if you don't have one it's easy to Google and find a free one to download.

 
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