GreenYour.com

Maintaining your dryer ensures that lint and dust don't build up in the vent system or the appliance itself. This, in turn, helps your dryer work more efficiently, resulting in lower energy costs and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

How to maintain your dryer

To ensure that your dryer is functioning at top efficiency, follow these GY-recommended steps:

1. Clean the lint filter before each use. Every dryer has a removable lint filter, usually accessible from the top of the machine or just inside the dryer door. To clean it, simply take it out of the slot, collect and discard all of the lint on the screen, and then replace the filter. In addition to this regular cleaning, occasionally remove the filter and rinse it under running water, cleaning with a soft brush.
2. Check your dryer exhaust (which is usually outside) every few months. Make sure it is clean and that the flapper on the outside hood opens freely and closes firmly, ensuring that outside air won't come into your home.
3. Clean the moisture sensor (if present) on your dryer. This sensor is usually located inside the front edge of the dryer drum. Wipe it regularly with a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol.
4. Make sure your dryer is vented properly. Instead of using flexible plastic or foil ducts that can become bent or squeezed and trap lint, choose the straightest and shortest metal duct available.
5. Add a lint kit to your electric dryer. These kits—which run from $5 to $30 and are easy to install—vent the exhaust heat and humidity into your house in the winter, which will reduce your heating and energy costs.

Maintaining your dryer helps you go green because…

• It keeps your dryer running efficiently, which saves energy.

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average household dryer consumes 1,079 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, which amounts to 2,224 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂). A dryer that is properly maintained will run up to 30 percent more efficiently, reducing CO₂ emissions and household energy costs.

Maintaining your dryer also reduces the risk of fire

Regular maintenance and cleaning of your dryer not only reduces your carbon footprint, it also decreases the risk of fire in your home. Using improper dryer vents and failing to clean them on a regular basis are two common causes of the nearly 15,000 laundry room fires started every year.[1] In addition to regular cleaning, further minimize the risk of fire by opting for metal dryer ducts rather than flexible ducts made of foil or plastic, which can be crushed and thereby trap lint and dust.[2]

External links

• About.com - Dryer Lint Filter Safety Concern
• RepairClinic.com - Maintenance Tips For Your Dryer