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DEAR MAINTENANCE MEN
BY JERRY L'ECUYER & FRANK ALVAREZ
DEAR MAINTENANCE MEN:
Our residents are complaining that the laundry room dryer is not drying the clothes in a timely manner. We checked the dryer and there is plenty of heat being generated. What do you think the issue is?
- Sherri
Dear Sherri,
You are describing a classic clogged dryer exhaust hose or line. In a laundry room scenario, there are sometimes long exhaust tubes and these tube will accumulate lint over the years. This will make the dryer’s exhaust very difficult to work efficiently. Luckily, this is a very easy DIY fix!
1: Go to a Home Depot or a Lowes Home Improvement Store and purchase a dryer duct cleaning kit. Most kits are good to clean about 12 feet of ductwork and extra lengths of rods are sometimes available if your ducts are longer.
2: If your dryer is easily accessible; pull the dryer away from the wall and remove the flexible tube from
the dryer. Clean out all the lint that has accumulated just inside the dryer exhaust port.
3: This is a good time to replace the flexible tube between the dryer and the wall or hard exhaust tube.
4: Connect the brush that came with the vent cleaning kit with the first section of cleaning rod. (The cleaning kit comes with a number of cleaning rods and brush)
5: Connect the first section of the cleaning rod to a drill motor set on low. Push the brush into the exhaust tube in the wall or along the floor. Using the drill motor to turn the brush in a clock wise rotation. (If the dryer is difficult to access. Start the cleaning from the far end of the exhaust tube and work your way to the dryer.) Pro Tip: If the dryer is connected to the tube and you are starting the cleaning from the outside going in; turn on the dryer on Air dry. The air pressure will help push the lint out the tube as you clean the tube with the brush.)
6: Continuing with the clock wise rotation; pull the brush out and clean off the accumulated lint. Attached a second rod to the first one. (Again, only
Frank Alvarez is licensed contractor and the Operations Director and co-owner of Buffalo Maintenance, Inc. He has been involved with apartment maintenance & construction for over 20 years. He is also a lecturer & educational instructor and Co-Chair of the Education Committee of the Apartment Association of Orange County as well as being Chairman of the Product Service Counsel. Frank can be reached at (714) 956-8371 Frankie@ BuffaloMaintenance.com For more info please go to: www.BuffaloMaintenance.com
Jerry L’Ecuyer is a licensed contractor & real estate broker. He is currently on the Board of Directors and Past President and past Chairman of the Education Committee of the Apartment Association of Orange County. Jerry has been involved with apartments as a professional since 1988.
APARTMENT MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE - FEBRUARY 2022 CS-37