Yearly dryer vent cleaning is something every homeowner or renter should have completed. Depending on the size of your household and how much laundry is done, every six months would also suffice for more active dryers. Ask a dryer vent professional about how often you should clean your dryer vent. Neglecting the proper vent maintenance can cause a short life span for your dryer, or even a fire from lint and debris that has built up over time in your vent. If you have a burning smell coming from your laundry room, you may have waited too long. Damage to your dryer or vent could have already taken place.
According to a report from the US Fire Administration about residential buildings, “While much of the lint is trapped by the dryer’s filter, lint is also carried through the vent system along with moist air. Lint is a highly combustible material that can accumulate both in the dryer and in the dryer vent. Accumulated lint leads to reduced airflow and can pose a potential fire hazard.”
Not only is lint a possible issue for dryer vents, but small animals such as birds, mice and squirrels may find their way into your vent. Birds tend to build a nest due to the moist and warm air coming through the vent. A damaged or weakened dryer vent due to improper installation can cause the warm air to not be exhausted properly to the outside, which may result in a fire. If a dryer vent that was installed has too many bends and turns, moisture being carried by the warm air may cause condensation inside the vent. This attracts lint, which will accumulate over time, furthering the need for timely dryer vent maintenance. Proper vent exhaustion is a top priority to take care of when it comes to the installation of your dryer.
Dryer Vent Cleaning Process
Luckily, the cleaning process is something that can be accomplished in as little as one hour. It is highly recommended to have professional cleaning technicians such as Dryer Vent Doctor complete this task. This will help to ensure proper safety measures are taken to protect you and your family. This process is simple, but thorough.
Technicians will start at the exterior of your dryer using a specialized snaking tool to unclog the vent from outside of your house down to your dryer. This process is repeated several times using a suction vacuum until the vent is completely free of lint, debris and possible messes left behind by critters. The dryer is then separated from the wall in order to thoroughly clean the lint trap from debris that may get stuck. After the technician has fully cleared out your vent and lint trap, the vent will be reconnected to the dryer for one final cleaning of the surrounding areas. Finally, your dryer will be tested to make sure everything is running properly and efficiently. This process will not only reduce the risk of house fires, but can also lower utility bills due to an overuse of your appliance. Clogged dryer vents will cause your clothes to dry at a much slower rate. A simple hour or two out of your day will take care of an extremely important task that could prove to be costly if neglected long enough.
Overall, if you’re looking for the most skilled and professional dryer vent maintenance technicians, Dryer Vent Doctor is your top choice. Our process highlights safety and efficiency as top priorities every time we start a job. From start to finish, we ensure proper communication about exactly what needs to be done in order to thoroughly clean your vent. Call us today for a free estimate for your dryer vent cleaning. Being proactive in this situation will save you time and money. As unsung heroes preventing house fires and bad indoor air quality, we promise to make your dryer vent as clean as Danny Zuko’s 1948 Ford “Greased Lightning.”