Our 5 Favorite Dryer Vent Cleaning Products and Tools
We know many people will want to take on this job by themselves. We are aware that not everybody will want to hire a professional to clean their dryer vent, so this article may be perfect for you! We are compiling a list of our 5 favorite tools and products that we use every day in the field. These products are a total game changer, so invest wisely and make your next DIY job even easier!
1) Anemometer
One of our absolute all time favorite tools that we cannot do a job without is an anemometer. This incredible tool will quickly and accurately measure the air flow that comes out of your dryer vent. We always take an initial reading before our cleaning service and then once again once we are finished. This will help us determine how clogged the vent was in the beginning and we can show tangible results to our clients. Most dryers will be able to push out at least 1500 feet/minute of airflow, so this should be your ultimate goal.
To learn more about anemometers, hop over to our other blog post here!
2) The Defender By Inovate
Installing a bird/critter guard around your dryer vent is an excellent option and everybody should highly consider getting one. The most common bird guards you will see are the plastic, grid-like cages. While the good intention is there, there are some issues that need to be addressed. First and foremost, these grid-patterned cages have small openings, trapping the lint and creating a blockage.
Our go-to product for these guards is the Defender from Inovate. This metal cage has large vertical bars allowing for lint to easily pass through without getting stuck or clogged. The Defender is made of heavy gauge steel and is powder coated so it will surely withstand the test of time. They are easy to install and look clean on the side of the home. While they are a little more expensive than your average plastic cage, they are easily worth every penny.
3) The DryerWallVent
The outlet cover that is installed on the outside of your house is much more important than you may think. This dryer wall vent outlet cover is where the air exhausts out of the house and out into the world. There are many options when it comes to a wall vent, but the DryerWallVent from Inovate is an incredible option for a clean look with high efficiency.
These wall vents are powder coated for added weather protection and come in a variety of colors. The wall vent comes with integrated magnets that hold the door shut when the dryer is not in use, preventing any birds from entering your vent. While they are not horribly challenging to install, it may be an afternoon project for most people.
4) Little Giant Ladder
While the Little Giant ladder is not specific to dryer vent cleaning, it is one of the best ladders out there. It’s extremely versatile, relatively lightweight and portable, and has some great safety features.
One of our favorite aspects of the Little Giant 26′ ladder are the adjustable feet for uneven ground. This helps when working on slanted ground and allows us to be as safe as possible when high up in the air for a job. The ladder folds down to roughly 7′ tall making it easy to transport from job to job.
5) How Long Is Your Run?
Ensuring you have the proper material/product for your transition hose is critical. We will often see the white plastic/vinyl material behind the dryer which is extremely flammable and delivers poor efficiency. You will also see the slinky, flexible foil type material which can crush easily and seems to always be restricting airflow.
The best alternative is to upgrade to DryerFlex which is one of the best semi-rigid transition hoses out there. It’s strong, more flammable than other hoses, and easy to work with. The efficiency will be drastically increased once you upgrade to this awesome program and you’ll be safer than you were previously.
Final Thoughts
There are so many more products out there that we use on a daily basis, but these are a few of our favorites that you can use too! Many products and tools will help to dramatically improve efficiency and air flow while keeping you and your home even safer.
If you have any questions and want to get in touch, just fill out our contact form and we’d be happy to help! We can answer any quick questions you may have or give you a quote if you’re local to the Delaware area!