Hi, I am Melissa from NorthlineExpress and today I am going to introduce you to the LintEater Rotary Cleaning System. This is a great system that is easy to use and it is going to provides you a means to be able to regularly clean your dryer vents. Using this system is not only going to keep your dryer running safely but it will also help to cut utility costs by having your dryer running more efficiently.
The only thing you need other than the LintEater Rotary Cleaning System is a clutched electric or cordless drill. The LintEater System will include all of the attachments necessary to clean your clothes dryer from the lint trap to the exhaust vent. We will cover all of the attachment in just a bit so for now we are going to discuss what needs to take place in preparation for the cleaning process to begin.
Prepping to Clean with the LintEater System
Before you get started using the LintEater system to clean out your dryer vent you need to first verify that you have adequate air flow exhausting out the vent pipe. To check this you will simply turn your dryer onto a heat cycle. Once the dryer is started you will then go outside and verify that you have airflow coming out. Place your hand over the outside vent and you will be able to feel the warm air blowing out of the vent. Sometimes it is a little more obvious than other to visually see the airflow. In our case we could see the little pieces of lint that were stuck around the edge moving from the airflow. In the occurrence that you do not have air flow coming out then you would need to check for obstructions in the venting. There is a tool included to help break through and pull out the blockage.
Now it is time to determine what type of venting is connected to the dryer exhaust. To know whether you have rigid venting pipe or a vinyl or aluminum light weight corrugated venting tube is not going to stop you from being able to use the LintEater system it is just going to tell you how cautious you will need to be. When cleaning the vinyl or the aluminum venting you will need to just run the drill at a lower setting so that you do not damage the venting. It is rather simple to verify the type of venting by placing the end of an included LintEater rod into the vent and tapping. If you hear a dull thud you have aluminum or vinyl venting and if you hear a positive metal on metal sound you have the rigid venting pipes.
Included in the LintEater System
So let’s go over what is included in the box of the LintEater Rotary Cleaning System.
~ Rods
You are first going to get 4 of the 36 inch flexible rods. The rods extreme flexibility will help them to navigate through the dryer venting. If you have any bends in the venting these rods will allow you to still get in there and clean without having to take the venting apart. Each rods is going to thread together to give you up to 12 feet of reach. It is recommended that while you are using the LintEater system that you use a heavy duty tape on each of the connections to ensure that they do not come apart while in the venting.
~ Blockage Removal Tool
There are a few different attachments that are included the first being the Blockage Removal Tool that I mentioned earlier. This tool is going to thread right onto the end of a rod and can be used to do just as its name suggests. You can remove blockages from your venting; it is even a great tool to remove blockages in your downspouts if your home has gutters.
~ Self-Feeding 4″ Auger Brush
The next attachment is the Self-Feeding 4″ Auger Brush that will allow you to easily make multiple turns while you’re cleaning your dryer vent. This brush is the main brush that you will be using to clean the lint out of the exhaust venting. The self-feeding feature is going to help you work through the venting and get around those bends without hassle.
~ Large 2.5″ Diameter Lint Brush
The Large 2.5″ Diameter LintEater Lint Brush in conjunction with one 36’’ rod will give you an exceptional 42″ reach to get all the way to the bottom of your lint trap. You will be amazed at what it gets out, I know we were! The exceptional reach also makes it a snap to clean behind, underneath and all around your dryer. If needed the lint brush is able to be curved or bent to get into those hard to reach areas and then returned right back to its original shape. You can use it to clean under appliances, baseboard heating vents or any other hard to reach areas.
~ Vacuum Adapter
The LintEater System includes an adapter to connect a vacuum or leaf blower to the inside end of the vent. The Vacuum Adapter will allow you to use the air from a shop vacuum or leaf blower to push the lint to the outside end of the vent while cleaning with the LintEater rotary brush.
~ Dryer Adapter
Not everyone has a shop vac or leaf blower handy so you also get a Dryer Adapter with your LintEater Dryer Vent Cleaning System. If you don’t have a shop vacuum or leaf blower, you can use the dryer air to push the lint to the outside end of the vent while cleaning with this adapter.
Cleaning using the LintEater Rotary Cleaning System
Okay, now it is time to begin the cleaning process. To start you will need to pull your dryer out. Be careful when doing this especially if you have a gas dryer. You do not want to bend or break the gas line. Make sure you check to see what you have going on behind the dryer as you could rip the venting off the exhaust outlet if you are not careful. Now that you have the dryer pulled out enough you can get behind it to clean off the back side with the Lint Brush and a rod. It is recommended to have a vacuum cleaner accessible to suck up any of the dust or lint that you may knock off.
To begin cleaning the dryer vent with the LintEater System you will need to be outside. This is where you will need your drill. Make sure that the drill is turned down to the lowest clutch setting as possible. You do not want to wreck the aluminum or vinyl venting. Attach the 4’’ Auger Brush to a single rod to begin. On the opposite end of the same rod you will need to attach the drill adapter. As you clean you will add more rod lengths as needed. If you attach more than one rod at the start it could wiggle all over because they are so flexible. Adding the additional rods as you go keeps the rods nice and sturdy. Once you start cleaning the venting keep the speed to a low steady speed and always spin in a clockwise direction. This will help to prevent the brush head from unscrewing. When you have reached the end of the venting you are going to continue with the clockwise direction but just while pulling the brush back out. Be careful as lint debris will most likely be blowing out of the vent as you remove the LintEater system. Repeat the process until you feel that you have gotten the venting completely clean. You should be able to see into the vent a little ways so take a peek and look for any signs of left behind lint build-up. If there is still lint in the vent continue the cleaning process for a few more passes and recheck.
Dryer Lint can be a Potential Fire Hazard
Using the LintEater Cleaning System will not only shorten your dry cycle time but it will also make your clothes dryer safer to run and less of a fire hazard. Every year in the United States there are at least 2900 residential fires that are caused from clothes dryers. Now this is something that can be avoided with preventative cleanings. I would recommend at least cleaning the dryer vents twice a year depending on how much you use your dryer. I bet most of you are thinking the same thing to yourself as I did when I heard these statistics, “I have never cleaned my dryer.” Well now is the time to start! There is no reason not to with the LintEater Rotary Dryer Vent Cleaning System. It is easy to use and makes the job kind of fun.
I hope you have found this information helpful. However if you still have questions or would like to get a LintEater System for yourself please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department at 1-866-667-8454. Here at NorthlineExpress, Home of the Buy and Try Satisfaction Guarantee, we are always happy to help.