| If you have a dryer with a duct that constantly gets | | | | friction. Use fabric softener which will reduce shedding |
| clogged by lint, a number of issues could be the cause. | | | | and enough detergent to allow for lint to be rinsed |
| For instance, a flexible plastic duct is a notorious lint | | | | away in the wash cycle. |
| trapper and is actually designed for attachment to | | | | Home maintenance calls for us to be ever vigilant on |
| bathroom fans. If your duct is made of this material, | | | | potential issues to avoid costly repairs. An area which |
| swap it out for aluminum dryer duct instead and avoid | | | | you can do this is with the bathroom's most important |
| a fire hazard. | | | | fixture - the toilet. If the toilet begins to make noises or |
| Poor routing also adds to the problem. Bends cause | | | | to vibrate after flushing look for the following causes: |
| friction which creates resistance to the dryer's exhaust | | | | 1. Since the toilet used to function normally, you can be |
| stream. Avoid 90-dcgree elbows which are akin to | | | | sure that something has worn out or become |
| adding 5-ft of duct. Because of building codes, keep | | | | maladjusted. This problem may be caused when |
| the length at 25ft. max when straight; shorten this | | | | water supplied through the stop-valve fixture is either |
| when taking into account friction causing bends and | | | | reduced or increased. Be sure that no one has |
| elbows. | | | | messed with this valve. |
| Be sure to inspect the cap located at the end of the | | | | 2. A water-pressure reducing valve may be out of |
| dryer duct as clogs here will restrict air flow and cause | | | | sync or may need to be rebuilt. This can only be |
| blockages. By sealing the vent cap with copper mesh | | | | possible if the house uses municipal water. |
| or sheet aluminum you can keep rodents from nesting | | | | 3. A water hammer arrestor can malfunction |
| inside a poorly fitted vent cap. | | | | becoming waterlogged. If the arrestor you have relies |
| Ultimately, for keeping a dryer vent clear nothing beats | | | | on an air pocket only to cushion pressurized water, |
| minimizing lint altogether. Avoid overloading the dryer | | | | you'll have to replace it when it becomes waterlogged, |
| as the friction created by clothes rubbing together | | | | unlike pressurized arrestors that can be changed. |
| produces lint. Reducing load size, therefore, minimizes | | | | |