Sewers
Will a sewer snake harm my dryer vent?
We live in a condo and the dryer vent is about 35 feet long with a couple of turns. It is clogged and must be cleaned out. My brother has a sewer snake and is willing to try it. Will the sewer snake chew up the vent?
Public Comments
- IF you are talking of the wire variety, not electric powered. It would probably work. Be cautious not to push to hard. I'm guessing that the vent hose is either flex pipe or PVC pipe.
- Probably not a good plan. Also where is the exit to the vent? You may end up not only ripping the vent but compacting the lint on the exit screen. Normally these vents are cleaned by extraction. I suggest finding and taping an extension to a shop vac. Your condo may be covered for this under the yards charge. I would call them before proceeding with any repair that extends to the outer walls.
- There are brushes designed for exactly this that will not damage the pipe. They are similar to chimney sweep brushes on long, flexible handles. But a sewer-snake is designed to remove solid obstructions such as tree roots, balls of paper and so forth - they are far too powerful (even the hand ones) for soft pipe. If you have Schedule 40 PVC pipe or properly installed metal flue-pipe, that would be a different story. But still, the correct brush cleaner is a better idea.
- It is the condos problem let them fix it, back to you question a hand snake may work be careful as you go a couple feet always lift up and feel for tension don;t grab to much at once or you could get stuck when pulling the snake out. good luck. check with maintenance first it's there job thats what you pay fee's for.
- It could. I just use a leaf blower on mine and blow it out.
