Dryer Vent Cleaning

The dryer vent you use is one of the most important components of the dryer. It is designed to get rid of moisture when drying clothes while pushing warm air outside. The length of a dryer vent will vary depending on the make and model. Other factors which contribute to length are the vent cover and the material. High quality dryer vents are comprised of rigid metal and have a large mouth or hood. While flexible metal is easier to handle, it can also cause lower air flow due to a design which is corrugated. Over time, this will lead to a buildup of lint.

Dryer vents become dirty over time due to lint and other debris. It will stick to the walls of the ventilation system, and with time will gradually restrict airflow. Not only will this affect the performance of the dryer itself, it can also promote allergens and potentially become a fire hazard. Maintaining your dryer vent is important, because should it become clogged and damaged, the costs needed to repair it can be steep.

Although most clothes dryers use a vent exhaust which consists of a basic duct, it can become problematic. Homeowners often wonder how it can be cleaned, and how often cleaning must be done. Most construction codes recommend that homeowners clean their dryer vents at least once every other year. However, depending on the level of usage, the dryer vent should be cleaned more frequently.

If your dryer vent has a length which is longer than 20 feet, or it features a large number of vent elbows, you will want to clean it more often. Other factors include the brand of the dryer, the frequency of use and how often the lint trap is cleaned. Cleaning the lint trap is extremely important, as this screen is responsible for the protection of the blower wheel. Ideally, the lint traps should be cleaned after each load.

In the late 1990s, the U.S. CPSC or Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that nearly 76% of households had at least one clothes dryer which means that more than 74 million households have an electric or gas dryer in the country. The report also included that over 14,500 fires, 300 injuries, 20 deaths and property damages worth over $75 million were caused by dryer fires.

Out of those fires, electric dryers were more than two times likely to be the root of the fire than their gas counterparts. This happens because of their higher heat discharge which can exacerbate the build-up of lint. Dryer fires often originate from two common areas which are the lint trap and dryer vents.

Ever since dryers and washers were invented, they have managed to create a level of convenience that was never before seen in a home. However, one of the biggest safety concerns with these dryers is the build-up of lint in the dryer’s ducting, vents outside the house as well as the dryer itself. Lint that is allowed to accumulate inside the dryer cabinets has caused more than 14,800 fires every year.

Lint can be easily ignited by gas burners, electric heating elements or even sparks from the motors. When either of the mentioned triggers occurs, the flames will travel through the lint-lined exhaust vents. To ensure that this does not happen at all, you should check the exhaust vents and the interior of the cabinet regularly. Additionally, you should also make cleaning the vents and lint screens an annual affair. If you are curious about how professionals Read More