" Dryers are a household workhorse and often work reliably for years, but the dryer vent requires regular maintenance. Lint can build up in the dryer exhaust vent reducing the dryer's efficiency and posing a fire risk. Here's how to easily clean a dryer vent. Opening the dryer door and grabbing the dryer from the inside, pull the dryer back from the wall. Behind the dryer, you'll find the dryer vent hose and a 220 volt plug for electrical dryer. Gas dryers will have a gas line and a 120 volt plug. First, unplug the dryer. Using a screw driver, unscrew the clamp holding the flexible vent hose to the aluminum elbow and detach the flexible hose. Remove the aluminum elbow and inspect it for lint. Using a flashlight, inspect the vent inside the dryer to make sure articles of clothing or other objects have not become lodged in the vent pipe. Now, using an industrial vacuum cleaner, first clean the back of the dryer and then vacuum the area surrounding the vent pipe; finally, vacuum out the inside of the internal dryer vent. Next, it's time to attack the inside of the flexible vent hose. Vacuum all the lint from the inside of the dryer vent hose. Before we head off to clean the rest of the vent, it's a good idea to vacuum up all the lint and dusts behind the dryer. And scrub the entire area behind the dryer to get rid of soap scum, which lint easily sticks to. When the clean up is complete. Fly the flexible dryer vent hose over the aluminum elbow and using the screw driver tighten the hose clamp until the connection is snug. Then slide the aluminum elbow over the end of the dryer vent pipe. Every dryer venting system is different. This one passes through the wall under the floor and out through the outside wall. Dryer vent lines should be as short as possible. Loosen the hose clamps and disconnect the vent pipe running under the floor. Pull apart the sections of the duct. The longer the dryer vent pipe run, the more buildup of lint you can expect in the pipes. It's not unusual to find a buildup of lint coating the inside of each section of the pipe. Without regular cleaning, the lint will continue to build up blocking the passage of air reducing the dryer's efficiency and offering a fire hazard. To remove the lint, simply vacuum it out from each section of pipe with an industrial vacuum cleaner. Also, vacuum out any flexible connecting duct pipe, this leads to the exterior vent cover. Vacuum the flexible duct until it's lint-free. Next, wearing gloves, a dust mask, and safety glasses; remove the insulation stuffed around the duct leading to the exterior vent. Unscrew the hose clamp and separate the hose. The exterior vent will either be nailed or screwed to the outer surface of the house. Carefully remove the fasteners and gently slide it out and away from the house. Vacuum out the inside of the exterior vent. Be sure to vacuum up underneath the vent door. If lint gets stuck outside the hinged weather door, it can prevent the lint door from opening. Replace the exterior vent and refastened it in place with either nails or screws. Slide the inner aluminum plate over the exterior vent pipe until it is tight against the wall of the house. Reconnect the flexible hose to the exterior vent pipe and tighten it down with a hose clamp. Place fiberglass padding all the way around the vent duct. This insulation will prevent heat loss and drat. Attach the other end of the flexible duct to the rigid aluminum ducting that runs under the floor. And replace and tighten the clamp. Now, connect the 2 sections of rigid aluminum duct back together again. Reassemble the flexible pipe from the laundry room to the duct pipe that runs across the basement, and tighten the clamp that secures the flexible hose to rigid duct. Make one last check that all the connections are tight and the duct runs straight and leveled. Reconnect the electrical plug for the dryer. Fly the dryer back into place and you're ready for your next load, knowing that dryer will be running more efficiently and with greater safety."