How to Check the Laundry Vent on a Roof

If you have a clothes dryer, you know all about the duct connected to the back -- it funnels hot, moist air and lint outside, preventing fires from starting in or around your dryer. What you may not know, though, is that you have to check the outside vent periodically to make sure that the air is filtering out properly. If you don't, your dryer's efficiency can suffer, and the vent can become a potential fire hazard. When your vent is on the roof, you must climb on up and take a look.

Ladder
Wet/dry vacuum

Instructions

- 1
  Run the dryer with a load of wet clothes just as normal -- the best way to check if the vent is blocked is to look at it while it's in action.
- 2
  Climb up to the roof using a ladder. To be extra careful, have a spotter hold the ladder steady while you climb up and wait there while you work.
- 3
  Inspect the vent to see if air is escaping. If no air is coming out, then your vent and/or the exhaust duct is blocked. Check the vent itself to see if it's obstructed with lint or other debris.
- 4
  Wait until the dryer is finished with its cycle before disconnecting anything. If the vent isn't pushing out air, you may need to clean out the duct. Disconnect the duct from the back of the dryer and vacuum it out with a wet/dry vacuum, then do the same at the connection between the duct and the outdoor vent.

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