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.
When a dryer vent becomes clogged with lint, more energy is required for the vent to operate. This decrease in efficiency ultimately leads to a much higher electrical or gas bill. Taking the time to ensure that the dryer vent is clean and unobstructed can significantly reduce your energy costs.
Dryer vent maintenance is a process that must be done systematically. When it isn’t, the dryer vent will begin giving indications that something is wrong. For instance, a dirty or clogged dryer vent will reduce the performance of the dryer itself. Therefore if your clothes take more than one cycle to become dry, this is a warning sign that the dryer vent should be inspected. Another indication that something may be wrong with the dryer vent is clothes that are still wet even when you’ve put them through a hot cycle.
If the dryer vent is unusually hot, this is a sign that the vent is clogged with lint. If there are windows in the same room as your dryer, and you notice they become foggy when you’re drying your clothes, this means the dryer is not working efficiently. Many homeowners who have dirty dryer vents will also notice dust particles and lint in the laundry room, and may develop allergies as a result.
Many homeowners want to save as much money as possible, and decide to clean the dryer vent themselves. While this is certainly possible, you should know what you’re doing. The dryer vent must be thoroughly cleaned, because if not you can find yourself in a worse situation than if you didn’t clean it. You will also need some specific tools to gain access to the vent and inspect it.
Homeowners who are too busy to be bothered with cleaning their dryer vent should hire a professional. There are cleaning companies on the market that specialize in this type of cleaning. But be sure that they are reputable and will do a quality job. Some companies lure in unsuspecting homeowners with unusually low prices and then charge them additional fees when they show up to perform the work. When hiring someone to clean your dryer vent be sure to get a referral, or seek out reviews from a source that is trustworthy. It is also important to clean the vent regularly, because the longer you go without cleaning it, the harder the job will be and the higher the cleaning service rates.