Dryer Vent Cleaning
Cleaning your Dryer Vent regularly improves the efficiency of your dryer, saves you money, and helps to minimize potential fire hazards.
As lint builds up in your dryer ventilation system it prevents air and moisture from escaping the dryer and clothes remain damp. This results in increased drying time and a higher electric bill. Running your dryer longer also causes unnecessary wear and tear on your dryer machine and its parts.
Many first-time customers unfortunately learn about dryer vent cleaning after paying for their dryer to be repaired, or after purchasing a brand new dryer and finding that their clothes still will not dry because the dryer vent is clogged.
Preventing the accumulation of lint will also help to prevent a dryer fire. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 15,500 fires associated with clothes dryers occur annually causing 10 deaths, 310 injuries, and more than $84.4 million in property damage annually. Lack of maintenance is the leading cause of dryer fires, with lint cited as the leading material to ignite.
How Do You Know When To Clean Your Dryer
- Clothing does not dry completely after a normal drying cycle
- A musty odor is noticed in the clothing following the drying cycle
- Clothing seems unusually hot to the touch after a complete drying cycle
- The dryer vent hood flap does not properly open as it is designed to do during the operation of the dryer
- More than a year has passed since the last dryer vent cleaning service
- Debris is noticed within the outside dryer vent opening
- Drying time for clothing takes longer than 35 to 40 minutes in duration
- Excessive heat is noticed within the room in which the dryer is being operated
- Large amounts of lint accumulate in the lint trap for the dryer during operation
- A visible sign of lint and debris is noticed around the lint filter for the dryer
- Excessive odor is noticed from dryer sheets that are used during the drying cycle
Decreasing dryer vent lint and debris
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that homeowners have their residential dryer vents cleaned at least once a year so that excessive debris does not build up within the ventilation pipes causing risks such as residential structural fires, gas leaks into the home and large energy usage for operating the dryer.
For homes that use the dryer more than two times per week regularly throughout the year the cleaning services sought should be increased accordingly.
There are some ways that homeowners can decrease the amount of debris build up within the dryer ventilation in between these cleaning services:
Limit the use of dryer sheets when drying clothing and liquid fabric softener in the washing machine. Residue from dryer sheets can clog your dryer's lint filter and fabric softners can deposit oils and chemicals on some fabrics that may become flammable in the dryer.
Only operate clothing dryers for intervals of 30 to 40 minutes per batch of laundry. This allows more air circulation within the dryer and less lint build up from occurring.
When possible, hang clothing heavy bedding, pillows and other large articles outside to line dry.
Perform minimal cleaning services on the dryer vent by using a shop vacuum to remove debris around the outside of dryer vents.
Keep the outside ventilation opening covered with a ventilation cap designed for this purpose. These caps allow debris to exit while preventing birds from nesting in the vent and causing blockages from occurring.
Use a vacuum to clean out the inside of the dryer around the lint trap and remove debris and excessive lint that may get trapped in this space.
Periodically it is okay to remove the back of the dryer to vacuum out lint that is trapped behind the machine as well. However, the homeowner should have adequate knowledge of the machine before they ever attempt to take it apart.
The appliance should always be unplugged and disconnected from gas lines before attempting this service for the safety of the home and its occupants.
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that homeowners have their residential dryer vents cleaned at least once a year so that excessive debris does not build up within the ventilation pipes causing risks such as residential structural fires, gas leaks into the home and large energy usage for operating the dryer.
For homes that use the dryer more than two times per week regularly throughout the year the cleaning services sought should be increased accordingly.
There are some ways that homeowners can decrease the amount of debris build up within the dryer ventilation in between these cleaning services:
Limit the use of dryer sheets when drying clothing and liquid fabric softener in the washing machine. Residue from dryer sheets can clog your dryer's lint filter and fabric softners can deposit oils and chemicals on some fabrics that may become flammable in the dryer.
Only operate clothing dryers for intervals of 30 to 40 minutes per batch of laundry. This allows more air circulation within the dryer and less lint build up from occurring.
When possible, hang clothing heavy bedding, pillows and other large articles outside to line dry.
Perform minimal cleaning services on the dryer vent by using a shop vacuum to remove debris around the outside of dryer vents.
Keep the outside ventilation opening covered with a ventilation cap designed for this purpose. These caps allow debris to exit while preventing birds from nesting in the vent and causing blockages from occurring.
Use a vacuum to clean out the inside of the dryer around the lint trap and remove debris and excessive lint that may get trapped in this space.
Periodically it is okay to remove the back of the dryer to vacuum out lint that is trapped behind the machine as well. However, the homeowner should have adequate knowledge of the machine before they ever attempt to take it apart.
The appliance should always be unplugged and disconnected from gas lines before attempting this service for the safety of the home and its occupants.
