What Could Be Wrong With a GE Dryer if Lint Was Packed in the Vents?

Dryer Performance

• If lint is packed in the dryer’s vents or lint filter, clothes take much longer to dry. Excess drying time wastes energy and drives up your utility bill. If you clean your lint trap regularly and still find that clothes aren't drying, your dryer isn't working properly or lint is packed in the vents.

Fire Danger

• Lint tightly packed in dryer vents is a fire hazard. Dryer fires occur when the dryer vent is packed with lint or other debris, and when the dryer stops working properly. In 2006, 29 percent of the 17,700 dryer fires in the United States occurred from lint packed in dryer vents, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.

Cleaning Lint

• To check if vents are clogged, turn the dryer on and find the dryer exhaust outside your home. Put your hand underneath the cover. Feel either air or a flap that pushes up or down emitting air. If you feel no air, or if the flap is down, the vent is clogged. Vacuum lint out with a vacuum hose. Wipe down the cleaned vent with a damp rag. For large clogs or help cleaning the lint, call an appliance repair shop specializing in dryers.

Tips

• Regularly cleaning the lint trap after each laundry load cuts down on lint in the system before it builds up and migrates into the vent. Pull out the lint screen and brush lint off with your hand. Periodically, clean the filter with soapy water. If your screen develops holes, apply a patch or purchase a replacement lint trap. The more use your dryer gets, the greater potential for lint overload in the vent. Homes with pets can experience more lint problems as dogs and cats shed.