5
Dryer Duct Cleaning *
Dryer exhaust ducts vary in construction, materials and configuration from city to city. The
general procedure for using the COBRA-5 Power Brush system described here may need to be
modified to safely and effectively clean these ducts in your area.
CAUTION: Cleaning the exhaust duct on a clothes dryer will improve performance and reduce
future lint build up, but the dryer itself must also be cleaned and lint removed from its fan,
heating area and other interior components to reduce the risk of fire.
1.
With the dryer running, clip the outside flap “OPEN” and check the airflow at the exhaust
with a flow meter. Write down the reading for comparison after cleaning.
2.
Turn off the dryer, remove power, then move it away from the wall and disconnect the
exhaust tubing. If it is a gas dryer, be careful to not damage or break the gas line.
3.
Apply vacuum to the end of the exhaust duct (inside or outside, depending on
configuration).
4.
Use the COBRA-5 in “Low Torque” mode with the 5/16” flexible dryer duct cable.
5.
Set the speed dial to 50 or 60 and insert the brush into the exhaust duct.
6.
Turn the remote switch to “FORWARD”, and push the brush into the duct with the cable.
7.
If resistance is met, try reversing the rotation of the brush and pushing it in again.
8.
If the cable cannot be pushed all the way to the end of the duct, it may be necessary to
insert the cable and brush from the other end of the duct.
9.
If there is a visible lint clog or bird nest, the nest claw may be needed to break it up.
CAUTION: The nest claw can be very aggressive, and may damage flexible ducts.
10.
If you have access to only one end of the exhaust duct, the Air-Care Vent Vac 4x4 “Y”
adapter allows the vacuum and the cable to be inserted from the same end of the exhaust
duct.
11.
Remove the back cover of the dryer and clean out the lint on internal components.
Usually 4-8 screws are used to mount the back cover. Access to the interior of the dryer
will vary with model, be careful to not damage it.
12.
Once the duct and dryer are clean, connect the dryer to the wall opening with aluminum
hose. (The Consumer Product Safety Commission does NOT recommend plastic
connector hoses, nor does any major dryer manufacturer).
13.
Turn the dryer on and again check the airflow outside. Typically over 1000 fpm (Feet Per
Minute) is good, and less than 1000 fpm is not. If the flow has increased substantially
over the original flow rate, you have been successful.
14.
Clean up any lint around the outside of the dryer, clean the exterior of the dryer and if
you have a sticker or magnet, date it for a follow-up cleaning in 12 months.
*
For complete Instructions on Cleaning Dryer Ducts, see the Air-Care
Dryer Duct Cleaning Video.
