Down, but not out: Dryer vent Plan B needed

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 04/26/2016 at 14:45 • Filed to: None

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So I started running my cheap little Home Depot brush thing down the dryer vent, and I’ll I’ve accomplished is creating a plug that is beyond the cheap tool’s ability to clean. I really don’t want to hire somebody to do this. Any suggestions? What I really need is a snake with a stiff wire brush on the end. This crappy tool has a useless soft nylon brush on it.

Backstory:

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7:07 > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 14:54

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I successfully unclogged a dryer hose using my Toro electric leaf blower. Your results may vary*

*may result in limb loss

Michael > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 14:54

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Do you have a shop vac?

coelacanthist > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 14:54

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You are really making me dread investigating this at my place. Good luck and keep the updates coming, I have a feeling I’ll need them. These posts should be a psa. Not only is this harsh on the dryer as you found out, but it’s quite a fire hazard as well. All homeowners need to check this out.

XJDano > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 14:55

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How much for new flue piping?

Ash78, voting early and often > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 14:55

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Go find that fridge coil cleaning brush I mentioned. It’s about 3' long, and about 2' of that is stiff bristles about 2" long that are fixed laterally to the brush body (which is coiled heavy wire). It’s made for breaking up the dust that collects between the coils under a modern fridge. Heavy duty and slightly flexible. Wish I could post pics...

64Mali > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 14:56

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Can you run a shop vac hose down it?

Or rig up a brush to a rotating plumbing declogger. I had a dorm room burn down because of a stuck vent like that btw...

ttyymmnn > Ash78, voting early and often 04/26/2016 at 14:57

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My clog is probably 5-6 feet below the top of the pipe, though.

ttyymmnn > XJDano 04/26/2016 at 14:58

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I don’t think it’s an option. The pipe runs down through the walls. I can’t get to it.

ttyymmnn > Michael 04/26/2016 at 14:58

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Nope.

ttyymmnn > coelacanthist 04/26/2016 at 14:59

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You are absolutely correct. My dryer was functioning properly, and the thermostat was shutting off the heating element when it got too hot. But if it weren’t doing its job, we’d have a serious problem on our hands, particularly because the pipe passes through the middle of the house and doesn’t fully vent to the outside.

Ash78, voting early and often > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:01

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You can probably find a longer one, or maybe rig up a daisy chain of coat hangers that can handle the pushing/pulling action. I will not make any bad coat hanger jokes now, even though you did put "Plan B" in the title. Another thought is a drain snake with maybe some scouring pads fixed onto the end with some wire. #macguyver

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:03

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My initial thought is to disassemble as much pipe as you can, clean as much as you can with your vaccuum cleaner using as much hose extension as you have.

Jcarr > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:03

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I have a feeling the ultimate answer is to bite the bullet and hire somebody.

Makes me thankful that the vent on my dryer runs all of 6 feet before it reaches the outside.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:04

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Actually, not fire. Is the pole strong enough to push things with? Drop a rag into the tube to give the pole something to push against the plug with, then push the rag. If you get the plug o’ crap to where you can reach it, you’ll be able to get your rag back.

If the current pole won’t do it, see if you can get one that can.

ttyymmnn > Ash78, voting early and often 04/26/2016 at 15:04

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I’ve even considered rigging up some lengths of closet bar, joined together sort of like nunchuks. Since I don’t have much clearance in the attic, I can’t just shove a long-ass pole down there. I have found a product that is similar to what I have now, but comes with different attachments, one of which is designed to handle clogs. That might be my next step, but I can’t find one locally. At least not yet.

http://www.amazon.com/Woodeze-5GA-RL…

-this space for rent- > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:05

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Is the vent all hard sided metal? Jam a drain snake in and try to break it up, you might even get lucky and snag it well enough to yank back out.

bobbe17 > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:05

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If you could take it out I was going to suggest lighting the innards on fire and letting them cook off because it’d be fun but it sounds like that’s not an option.

Could you rig up some thicker wire and just bend the bottom of it up to fish out the larger pieces? Then you can get the scraps with your cheap brush.

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 04/26/2016 at 15:06

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Not a bad thought, though I don’t want to get the rag stuck. The pole is of similar construction to flexible tent poles. Once it hits a blockage, it just bends and loses much of its pushing force.

ttyymmnn > bobbe17 04/26/2016 at 15:07

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Trying to avoid fire here, but I’m starting to think it would be fun...

Can’t do much from the bottom end, since the pipe makes a 90º upward bend right at the wall. I can get my arm in, but not up to the clog.

ttyymmnn > -this space for rent- 04/26/2016 at 15:08

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Vent is made of sheet metal. I have been offered a drain snake, and that might be my next step. But the guy who offered it is a local handyman, and might charge me. I’m trying to do this myself and save the money.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:08

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You can’t push the pole through the block a couple of times without the brush on it, to loosen it up? Fiberglass poles similar to tent poles are also what you see on a professional chimney sweep setup, but they’re probably a little heavier than what you’ve got.

ttyymmnn > Jcarr 04/26/2016 at 15:08

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That is Plan E or F.

ttyymmnn > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 04/26/2016 at 15:09

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I can’t disassemble. I’ve got one length of pipe from the attic down to the laundry room.

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 04/26/2016 at 15:10

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Yes, I have tried just the pole. I think I’m going to try a few more times, though. I’m also beginning to winder if the pipe is entirely straight. It might make a bend somewhere.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:12

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I don’t suppose you have a mop handle or anything similar...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:12

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Can you gain access to it in the attic from the other side?

ttyymmnn > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/26/2016 at 15:13

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Yes, I’ve been attacking it from the attic all along. It should be a straight shot down to the laundry room, but I’m beginning to wonder about that.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:14

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You don’t happen to have any masonry drill bits (the 12"-24" kind)? Could attach to your flexible tool and spin.

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 04/26/2016 at 15:14

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I haven’t tried, but I don’t think there’s enough room in the attic to get the handle down the pipe.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:16

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Also, once you get your dryer vent unclogged and cleaned, I suggest you invest in something like this:

http://www.sears.com/systemair-2725…

http://www.amazon.com/Fantech-Lint-T…

And install it close to the dryer so you have less dust/lint going higher up the vent and making it easier to keep clean for a longer time.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:16

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Why don’t you try pulling out the dryer and attacking from the bottom then?

Boxer_4 > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:25

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That looks like flue pipe/stove pipe? Worst case, you may be able to cut the pipe off away from the wall (leaving the pipe still in the wall with some pipe still sticking out) to clear the blockage, then rebuild the section you took out with joiners/couplers/unions and stove pipe (similar to what you would do with copper or PVC plumbing).

(I would verify all of this before acting on anything I said above)

KatzManDu > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:26

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Chimney-sweep style brush? You get just more handle components that screw on to make the thing longer.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:29

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Then get some extra extensions for your vacuum cleaner...

jariten1781 > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:35

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Clean till it jams. Free it with the leaf blower (wear a mask since it’s venting to the attic). Clean again, blow again, until clear. That'd be my course of action.

ttyymmnn > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/26/2016 at 15:36

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I have. I’m slowly chipping away at the clog with just the pole, and I may be making headway. It’s 100º in the attic, so I’m taking lots of breaks.

vondon302 > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:36

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Try using a sewer snake. Something like this then come back thru with the brush. Or compressed air but that could get ugly.

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 04/26/2016 at 15:37

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Actually, I was able to get a broom handle down there, and moved the clog a bit. Not it’s farther down than I can reach with the handle. I’m chipping away at it with just the flexible stick, and I think I’m making headway. It’s so damned hot in the attic, though, that I’m taking lots of breaks.

vondon302 > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:38

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Harbor freight sells some cheap sewer snakes.

ttyymmnn > vondon302 04/26/2016 at 15:38

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I’ve been offered one by a neighbor. May have to go that route.

shop-teacher > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:38

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They make tools that are multipiece that attach to a drill for exactly this task. I imagine buying one would cost more than the cost of hiring somebody to come do it, but perhaps you can rent one?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:42

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Could be worse - could have come up in a month or two.

ttyymmnn > shop-teacher 04/26/2016 at 15:43

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I found one online for about $50, which is probably about half of what somebody would charge. I haven’t looked into it yet. I think I’m making headway, and I’m cheap enough that I’m going to stick with it for a while. It’s just so darned hot in the attic that I have to take frequent breaks.

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 04/26/2016 at 15:44

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Only 84 here today. So it’s probably close to 100 in the attic. Yes, it could be much, much worse.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 15:58

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Hot attics suck to work in.

shop-teacher > ttyymmnn 04/26/2016 at 16:02

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For $50, I’d get the tool, because that’s going to happen again to you. With such a long and bendy dryer vent line, you should be cleaning it out every 6 months or so.