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It's still producing heat, just takes longer to dry. Is this a sign of the vent hose being clogged? I've tried to vacuum it, but could only clean so much of it.

Are there other things that could cause this?

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In need of car.

If it is still heating but taking too long to dry, it's clogged venting. Bear in mind that it could be the hose, the piping to outside, the vent cover outside, and it could be inside the dryer itself. Most folks don't have piping and the dryer is located on an external wall, so once you clean the hose there isn't much left outside the dryer.

Usually you can remove the panels on the outside of the dryer fairly easily and you will find a lot of built up lint if the dryer is fairly old. They aren't complicated beasts, but do unplug before you start removing screws.


--Donnie

If you have a long vent hose run, which we actually do, it is very easy for lint to build up and significantly reduce the air flow. It is also a serious fire hazard! If you have a long vent hose, with permanent aluminum ducting as part of it, you can have it cleaned by a pro. Some chimney sweeps have the attachments to clean it out without removing any ducting. It is sort of like a rotor rooter tool for duct work. We had this done to ours last spring. It was really amazing how much stuff came out of the vent!

I suspect that HVAC service guys could probably do the same thing.

Miles

Yeah, the hose does travel rather far, probably about 25ft. I was able to clean about the first 6-7 ft of it with the shop vac.

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In need of car.

Lowes and Home Depot have a duct cleaning tool, kind of like a mini chimney sweep you can buy for just this.

And to touch on some of what others have said about the type of duct. By code now only metal duct work may be used. And due to the fire hazard of the old vinyl type several insurance company's exclude claims if the vinyl ducting was used. So if you have the vinyl and can get to the ductwork, attic or crawlspace, I would highly recomned changing it out ASAP.

I, too, have a 20" run of duct. I also have a couple of lengths of 1/2" EMT tubing left from another project. I wad up an old towel and ram it through just like loading a cannon. It's not a bad idea to tie a light rope to the towel just in case the ramrod doesn't quite reach the other end (would hate to have to fish the towel out. On my first try the ram rod was inserted from the interior end to prevent the mess of lint falling in the basement, but it is much easier to work the ram from outside. Our vent cover/flap is easily pried off the side of the house. It is also a good idea to clean the flap so that it closes tightly (critters love this duct..... until the dryer comes on).
Happy home owning,
Charlie G

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1998 BMW Z3
1987 BMW 325is
2000 BMW
1996 F250 Turbo Diesel

A better idea would be to shorten the length of the vent run if at all possible. It not only dries clothes faster, but is easier on the dryer. When we redid our laundry room I put the exhaust right behind the dryer so it can vent efficiently. (It also give the area behind the garage an April fresh scent when clothes are drying) Seriously, if you can reroute it, even to an inconspicuous place if your dryer is in the front of the house it would be best.

Another approach to a short dryer vent is what my folks did. Their dryer is in the basement below ground so an external vent was not easy to set up. What they have is a vent hose that passes into a bucket with water in the bottom. The water catches the virtually all the lint and the hose is only about 2 feet long. I think Dad found this bucket arrangement at a Lowes or Home Depot store.

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George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

Just for a follow up, I borrowed my father's electric blower (didn't want to use my gas one inside), duct taped it to the dryer hose and let it run for 10-15minutes. Now it only takes one cycle to dry clothes!!

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In need of car.