Tumble dryers are extremely handy, especially in the winter when the sun is not as adept at drying our clothes, but if you wanted it to enjoy a healthy and long life, you are going to want to take heed of the following tips.
Ensure the Dryer Exhaust Has Little Resistance
Dryer exhausts attract lint as you might expect, so ensuring that yours is as short and as resistance free as possible is important. A clogged up exhaust will just make the dryer work extra hard when it dries its loads.
Plan ahead how you plan to use the exhaust and avoid any elbows as they are easier to clog up. Try and keep the exhaust as straight as possible and regularly check for blockages and your dryer should be able to enjoy a good lifespan.
Clean Out That Exhaust Regularly
No matter how little resistance your exhaust pipe has, it will still suffer from a build-up of lint eventually. For that reason, you should take the time out at least once each year to give it a good clean out.
This is not as difficult as you might think as you just need to remove it, give it a shake and maybe use a long stick that has been padded to push right through it. All you have to do then is attach the exhaust pipe and wait another year for the next clean-out.
Avoid Venting the Exhaust Indoors
You really do not want to be breathing in the built-up lint within your exhaust pipe no matter how good that warm air can feel during the colder months. On top of that, this warm air contains far too much moisture and will just lead to condensation appearing on your windows.
Check the Lint Catcher Before Each Load
Another way to give your dryer a better chance of a long life is to regularly check the lint catcher. This is easy to forget but if you can somehow turn it into a habit to do so before each load, you will definitely be adding to the life of your dryer. A lint-free catcher allows your dryer to work more efficiently which equates to the need for less power and less work.
Check the Door Seals
If air is getting out through the seals on the dryer door, it is going to be working extra hard to dry your clothes. You need to check those seals whenever you get a chance and replace them if there are indeed gaps that are letting air through. You can simply use a piece of paper to see if it slides beneath the seal to determine any gaps.
If you can do all of the above on a regular basis, your trusty tumble dryer will be able to enjoy a healthier lifespan while at the same time, you will be able to enjoy efficiently dried clothes whenever you need them.
