The importance of keeping your dryer vents clean goes beyond energy savings to include home safety. This is because a dryer vent essentially serves as a chimney, helping to exhaust hot air from your home. In its absence, a dryer will likely distribute heat, lint, and debris throughout the room, creating a fire hazard. Indeed, according to the National Fire Protection Association, dryer vents are among the leading causes of home fires.
This is why having your dryer vent cleaned regularly is so important. Below, we’ll discuss a few of the reasons why.
1. Fire Prevention
The lint buildup in your dryer vent is highly flammable and poses a serious fire hazard. A clothes dryer causes thousands of home fires every year due to clogged vents. Cleaning your vents regularly will help you keep your family and property safe from fires.
2. Energy Efficiency
Clean your dryer vents to get better airflow, improve efficiency, and lower your energy bills. Clogged dryer vents make your dryer work harder, which not only costs you more money but wears out your dryer faster.
3. Prolonging Dryer Lifespan
Clogged dryer vents put extra strain on the motor, heating element, and other parts, which can shorten its lifespan and need expensive repairs or even premature replacement. Your dryer will run more efficiently, last longer, and get less stress on its components if you clean your vents regularly.
4. Mold prevention
If your dryer vent becomes clogged, moisture can collect inside the vent, resulting in the growth of mold and mildew, both of which are not only unpleasant to smell, but also pose a health risk to you. Cleaning your dryer vent regularly is a good way to prevent mold and mildew from growing.
5. Faster Drying Times
The cleaner the dryer vent, the better the airflow and efficiency, the faster the drying times will be, and the cleaner your laundry experience will be.
When Should I Have My Dryer Vent Cleaned?
Now that we’ve gone through the various reasons to make sure your dryer vent is cleaned and well-maintained, let’s touch on the signs indicating it requires your attention.
Below are the signs to look out for.
- Longer drying times: if your dryer is taking longer than usual for each cycle of laundry, this indicates that either your lint screen needs cleaning, or you have got clogged vents.
- Overheating: If you find that your clothes become unusually hot after each cycle, it may be because your vents are clogged, leaving them unable to adequately disperse heat.
- Burning smell: A burning smell from your dryer could mean lint buildup has clogged your vents and is taking in the heat, posing a fire hazard.
- Mold or mildew smell: clogged vents can also trap in moisture and become a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
- Frequent lint filter clogs: There are a slew of reasons for lint filters to get clogged frequently. It could be that you’re adding too much bleach, or too much water. Another reason, however, is that your pump filter needs cleaning.
- Dryer stops working: A clogged vent may cause your dryer to overheat and trip its safety mechanism, resulting in the dryer not working or frequently shutting off.
When to Call a Professional
Knowing the signs your dryer vent needs cleaning is essential, but you also need to know when to call a pro. Trying to clean dryer vents on your own isn’t always safe or effective, so you may need some expert help. Listed below are some situations where you should call a professional dryer vent cleaner:
Lack of experience or proper tools: Not everyone knows their way around a dryer or has the tools necessary to get the job done. If you’re one of these people, it might be best to let a professional handle it. A professional dryer cleaner will have the tools, knowledge, and experience to get the job done right.
Complex vent configurations: If your dryer is configured in a way that makes the vents inaccessible and thus difficult to clean, then consider hiring a pro instead. As long as you get the services of someone with a lot of experience, then you can trust that they’ve handled difficult dryer configurations in the past and can handle yours.
Persistent issues: If issues persist after you’ve cleaned out your vents, then call a professional service. It could be that there are other problems with your dryer other than dirty vents.
Maintenance: It is always a good idea to schedule a professional cleaning yearly, even if your dryer is operating correctly. Yearly maintenance will help ensure that your dryer operates efficiently and safely for many years.
Potential damage: If you suspect that your dryer vent is damaged, call for professional help. Damaged vents can reduce efficiency and pose safety risks. A professional can assess your dryer, repair it, and clean it for you.
Don’t hesitate to call a professional to ensure that your dryer vent gets the best treatment possible. Remember: being vigilant of the signs we mentioned above and keeping your appliance well-maintained will not only help you avoid a potential hazard, but it will also ensure your dryer operates smoothly and efficiently, for years to come.
Does Your Dryer Vent Need Cleaning?
Is it time for your dryer vent to be cleaned? Want your dryer vents cleaned professionally? Look no further than the dryer experts at Duct Dusters. If you need dryer vent cleaning or any other HVAC work done, our licensed professionals have got you covered.
Let us help keep your home safe and comfortable with our vent cleaning services. We pride ourselves on providing quality service, which leads to lifelong customers. Get in touch with us today or fill out our contact form.