OK to temporarily use dryer w/o a lint screen?

**dfinn** · 01-15-2007, 06:16 PM

I go to take my load of clothes out of my dryer and the door is open and clothes are spilled out. That seemed kind of odd but it's a new ( to me ) dryer and it's a small apartment size one so I figure I probably just over loaded it. Some how the lint screen got tangled up with clothes and is all twisted and broken beyond use. I called Sears to order a replacement and it will be here in a week.

What would happen if I temporarily used my dryer without any lint screen for a week? End of the world or no big deal?

**axebiker** · 01-15-2007, 06:57 PM

Probably nothing. Just turn your underwear inside out to be safe.

**Cirquerider** · 01-15-2007, 06:57 PM

Without a lint screen you will just blow larger particles into the exhaust. That could clog the outlet damper or the pipe and cause accumulation along the exhaust path in the dryer. In the short-term just inspect the pipe and outlet and you'll be fine. You could increase the potential for a duct fire or clogging in the long term.

**jfost** · 01-15-2007, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by axebiker

Probably nothing. Just turn your underwear inside out to be safe.

depending on how light and fluffy your underwear is - it could be sucked out through the vent...

just take out a section of the ripped screen and jam it across the opening - creating a temp. vent screen 'til the new one comes in!!!