With things like carpools, soccer practices, and other family-related activities with which to contend, it should come as no surprise that some things, often through no fault of our own, take a back seat to everything else that’s going on. One thing that is commonly overlooked by homeowners is the proper maintenance and cleaning of dryer vents. People may think that cleaning these vents isn’t all that important. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
LINT BUILDUP IS D-A-N-G-E-R-O-U-S!
There are thousands of fires caused by dryer lint buildup that happen every year. One of the ways to decrease the chances of fire is to clean your dryer vent after every laundry load you use it for. In fact, studies prove that effective cleaning maintenance of dryer vents can reduce the chances of fire by 90%. Not only does vent cleaning help prevent house fires, it also will make sure our clothes are dry and smelling nice after each use.
LINT BUILDUP INCREASES ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Aside from the dangers of fire, buildup of dirt and lint in the dryer vent can also significantly increase your energy consumption. This is due in large part to the fact that a clogged vent makes your dryer take more time to dry your clothes. There are numerous warning signs that you can watch for that will indicate that you have a dirty dryer vent. Possible signs that the vent may be clogged is if the dryer no longer dries the clothes in one cycle, the clothes carry a musty smell after a drying cycle, the dryer seems to run hotter than normal, a visible amount of lint is noticed around the lint filter, and debris is noticed within the outside dryer vent opening.
LINT BUILDUP MUST BE CLEANED REGULARLY
To avoid this potentially dangerous buildup in your vents, you need to follow a predetermined maintenance schedule. As a general rule of thumb, the majority of dryer vents need to be cleaned at least once a year; some dryer ducts need more frequent attention. Some determining factors include:
- The number of people who are using the same dryer
- The age and condition of the dryer
- The length of your dryer vent
The best way to ensure dryer safety is to clean the lint screen after every use and to have your vent and duct cleaned regularly.
Each time you run your dryer, lint builds up in the vent. Cleaning the lint screen will help you keep the dryer running and working well, but a little lint will remain within the vent. It is very important to keep up with dryer vent cleaning, as the built up lint poses a very serious hazard to your house and everyone in it. If you are unsure when your dryer was last serviced or you notice that the dryer seems to be running hotter than normal, you should contact the C-DET-certified technicians at SirVent Charlotte as soon as possible. Because of our experience, dedication to professionalism, and attention to detail, you can expect clean, thorough, quality service.