How To Clean A Long Dryer Vent Hose

How To Clean A Dryer Vent On The Roof (Do This!)

If there's one thing that homeowners often learn the hard way, it's the importance of ventilation. Even something as simple as a dryer vent can make or break your ability to keep drying your clothes efficiently. Unfortunately, this means you will need to clean your vents once in a while. That isn't always so easy, or at least, that's what one would think. How do you even do this chore anyway?

The entire process begins by opening up the vent from the ground level and vacuuming the interior. Then, you will have to wear protective gear, go up on the rooftop, and clean the filter. When cleaning the filter, make sure to remove the filter guard and clean that as well. Put the filter back, and then you should be finished.

If you have a dryer vent on the roof, you should be aware that this is a fairly complex procedure. Before you attempt this, you should be aware of the full scope of the project.

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Table of Contents

Before You Begin: Important Questions To Ask
- Should You Attempt This Alone?
- Should You Call A Professional To Do This?
Clean Your Rooftop Dryer Vent: The Guide
- How Often Should You Clean A Rooftop Dryer Vent?
How Much Does Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning Cost?
- Is Cleaning Your Dryer Vent Worth It?
How Do You Know If Your Dryer Vent Is Clogged?
Related Questions
- - Can you use a dryer vent cleaning kit on a rooftop dryer vent?
  - Do all dryers need a rooftop vent?

Before You Begin: Important Questions To Ask

Cleaning a dryer vent on the roof isn't like changing an HVAC filter. It's far more complicated, and frankly, should not be attempted by someone who doesn't have experience on a roof. Here's what you should be aware of before you start.

Should You Attempt This Alone?

NO! You need to have someone who can act as a spotter for your ladder. If you don't have someone holding the ladder, the ladder will slip and cause you to fall. This can potentially kill you. Moreover, actually walking on your roof can be tricky and slippery. If you want to stay safe, buy a body harness you can use.

Some rooftop materials are particularly slippery. If you have a slate roof or a tile roof, do not try to clean your own vent. These materials are so slippery, professionals are always the better option.

Should You Call A Professional To Do This?

Honestly? You probably should. Aside from the fact that climbing on your roof (particularly if you have a very steep or slippery roof) is dangerous, there are some tools that are better suited for this that most casual homeowners don't have. While you can give this a shot, we don't recommend it, especially if you need a more thorough cleaning.

Clean Your Rooftop Dryer Vent: The Guide

Now that we've gone over the basics, let's talk about how you can actually do this thing.

Begin by going to the vent portion that's inside of your home.Unscrew the vent cap, unplug everything and vacuum the interior using a long hose attachment. You want to remove as much of the lint as possible on the bottom section.
Once that's done, reseal everything here and move to the top of your roof. You should use a ladder with a friend to spot you. Wear grippy workboots, a helmet, goggles, and a pair of gloves.
Check around the vent and peel back shingles that may obscure access to it.If they're held in place by tar, then you're going to need to cut them with a sharp knife. Don't worry about leaks here! In most cases, it will not impact your roof negatively.
Get to the dryer vent and remove the vent guard.The vent guard may be nailed in. If this is the case, use a pry bar to get rid of the nails and remember that you will need to re-nail things in. Most modern guards, though, will be screw-in or clasped in. It can take a little effort and twisting to get older models out.
Take a brush and clean the guard.Make sure to manually pull out large clumps of lint you may have.
Do your best to clean the inside of the vent from the rooftop, too. This could be done through a strong brush, or through a handheld vacuum. If you can't haul a wireless vacuum up the ladder, don't sweat it. Even a little bit of cleaning can do a lot for your vent system.
Get a brush and clean the exterior of your dryer too.If you see lint or leaves around the vent, manually pull them away.
Replace the vent guard and get down.Once everything is cleaned, put everything back together. You're done!

How Often Should You Clean A Rooftop Dryer Vent?

Despite the demands most vent systems have, your rooftop dryer vent doesn't need to be cleaned out that often. In most cases, you may only need to give them a clean once to twice a year. If you live in an area that is not heavily forested and you don't use your dryer often, then you may be able to get away with cleaning it once every two years.

With that being said, there are moments where you should clean a rooftop regardless of the cleaning schedule. For example, if you recently had a major dust storm or experienced a tornado whizzing by your home, you should clean your home. These situations cause debris to fly into your vents, after all.

How Much Does Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning Cost?

If you are wary of climbing on a roof and don't feel comfortable doing it, then you should consider getting professionals to do it. (In fact, you absolutely should. It's better to be safe than sorry!) Unfortunately, this is not something that comes cheap when compared to other cleaning services.

Depending on the height of your dryer vent and the number of vents you have, this service can cost anywhere from $90 to $450. Most vents will only cost between $120 to $130 to clean, though. Obviously, this is something you should save ahead for rather than assume you can just wing it.

Is Cleaning Your Dryer Vent Worth It?

While it may be pricey to do, there are plenty of reasons why it's a procedure that's worth it. The biggest reason is that a dryer vent that's clogged is a major fire hazard. Lint is highly flammable, and if the vent gets too hot, it's possible to have a fire break out. This reason alone is important enough to clean your vent on a regular basis.

Of course, there are other reasons to do it. You know how your furnace acts strangely when the filter isn't replaced? Or how many people choose attic ventilation fans to try to improve home ventilation? Well, it's not just for fun. Ventilation is important for your dryer system in terms of the system's health.

Cleaning your vent helps keep your dryer working properly, and also extends the lifespan of your dryer. Replacing a dryer is not a cheap thing to do. As a result, it's actually more expensive to skip the cleaning than it is to clean it.

How Do You Know If Your Dryer Vent Is Clogged?

A clog in your dryer vent means that you should clean your vent ASAP. But the question is, how do you figure out if it's even clogged? It's simple. Just walk for these signs:

Your clothes aren't drying the way they did. A less effective dryer is a key sign that something might be cloggy back there. If you're noticing a musty smell in your dryer, it could be a moldy pile of lint clogging the vent.
You're noticing debris building up around the dryer vent, or that you got lint accumulating around the lint filter.If the clog is too big, lint won't be able to get vented out of your system.
The room that houses your dryer is unusually warm. Is your dryer overheating, or does your dryer room feel unnaturally warm? Yep, might be a clog reducing the airflow that keeps your room cool—or, it could be that your dryer overheated. Either way, it's not good.
It takes over an hour for your clothes to dry.This could be a sign that your dryer is too clogged with lint, or that your vent needs to be cleared out.

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Can you use a dryer vent cleaning kit on a rooftop dryer vent?

Absolutely. However, there's a catch. Most dryer vent cleaning kits work with the bottom portion of the vent. They also have different ways of being used. In order to use a dryer vent cleaning kit, it's best to follow the instructions that are included on the packaging.

With that said, you really need to keep an eye on the cleaning kit you want to use. Most cleaning kits will give you the basics needed in order to clean your vent, and that's it. Others have specific tools that work with their own unique cleaning process. Choose the right one.

Do all dryers need a rooftop vent?

Believe it or not, the answer is no. Certain dryers, such as condenser dryers, don't require as much ventilation as vented dryers. They also happen to be gentler on the clothes you're drying, making them one of the more popular dryer types today. If you don't have much ventilation available, choose a condenser dryer.

Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

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