A Lint-Free Dryer Duct Is a Very Safe Bet

The duct that carries exhaust from the back of the dryer into the wall inlet can be dangerous.

This duct is designed to be flexible, to allow the dryer to be moved easily away from the wall for servicing. An inexpensive solution is to construct the vent of wire-reinforced plastic.

The problem is that dryer lint is highly flammable and usually accumulates inside the duct. Under some conditions, lint can ignite and burn quickly through a plastic duct.

To address this concern, many communities require that dryer ducts be made of flame-resistant metallic materials. To determine if your dryer duct is plastic or metallic, note that a plastic duct looks like a white corrugated tube about 4 inches in diameter. A flame-resistant metallic duct is about the same size and shape but is a silvery metallic color.

Upgrading a plastic dryer duct to a metallic duct is easy. Step one is to visit a local home center or hardware store and specify flame-resistant dryer ducting. A duct about 5 feet long is adequate in most homes. Also pick up some duct clamps, unless they are included with the duct.

Pull the machine far enough from the wall to get behind it. Loosen the clamps on the duct at the back of the machine and at the wall inlet. Remove the old duct and install the new one with the new clamps.

Push the machine back into position and check the position of the new duct to make sure there are no kinks that would restrict the flow of exhaust. If it needs a little reworking, a broom handle can be the perfect tool.

A final word about keeping your dryer breathing easy: Because lint accumulates inside a dryer duct (even if you clean your lint trap), over time the exhaust flow from the dryer will become restricted. Your laundry will begin to take longer to dry and your machine will use more energy than it should. It is a good idea to remove the flexible duct and clean it of lint by running water from a hose through it at least once a year.

And if your dryer does not sit against an exterior wall in your house, exhaust has to travel a distance though an inaccessible duct to get outside. These inaccessible ducts are prone to lint buildup and need to be cleaned yearly as well. Most qualified professional duct cleaning services can do this.

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Gary Abrams is a general contractor who has written about home improvement for The Times for 10 years. Comments and questions can be sent to TheHomeDoc@aol.com.