Why Should You Clean Your Dryer Vent?

The dryer vent has many important roles. The most important role it has is transferring heat from your dryer out of the home. The dryer vent acts like a chimney, and helps take the hot air from the dryer out of your home. Without the dryer vent, your dryer will probably spread heat, lint and debris all over the room it is located in.

 

Reasons and Benefits of Dryer Vent Cleaning

Aside from the obvious reason of saving your life by cleaning the dryer vent, there are several other benefits to dryer vent cleaning. Your health, your dryer's efficiency and life span for example. Let's take a closer look at each reason.

Your Health and Life

Clogged dryer vents are not only a threat to your home but also a threat to your life. From producing toxic gases to fire risks, a poorly maintained dryer can result in so many poor scenarios. Therefore, homemakers should thoroughly clean vents to avoid any life-threatening situation.

Your Dryer's Efficiency

By removing dust and dirt, you allow the dryer vent to work to its full capacity. Your clothes take less time to dry up and won't lose their shine. If it takes multiple cycles to dry your wet clothing then it's certainly time to call a professional.

Dryer's Life Span

With proper cleaning of dryer vents, they last much longer. Clogged dryer vent results in the machine working harder but the functioning is negatively affected. Once your dryer vent is clear of all foreign particles, it runs smoothly and doesn't need a replacement.

Saving Money

A cleaner machine works for a longer time. Therefore, it won't require changing for a longer span. When the vents are not blocked, they function to a hundred percent and won't cause wear and tear to the parts. Not only does this cleaning save you from purchasing a new machine but also helps to avoid repairing costs. The biggest benefit is the lowered utility bills as the running time of a clean dryer is less than a clogged one.

 

Signs and Effects of a Clogged Dryer Vents

Because a dryer vent is meant to remove heat, if it gets clogged it causes several problems which affect your dryer, and its efficiency. Here are the main signs and effects of a clogged dryer vents:

1. Your dryer isn't working as well as it used to - If your dryer is taking too long to dry your clothes, it should raise a suspicion. It happens to the best dryers. Over time, they will be less efficient. However, it doesn't happen as quickly as a clog in the dryer vent. Many people have called the dryer technician, only to find out the dryer's inability to remove air and humidity through the dryer vent was the main cause for efficiency loss.
2. You notice a burnt smell around your dryer - that's a pretty bad sign, but still - if you feel it's the dryer - turn it off immediately. Dryer vents are a fire hazard if not cleaned properly, since the lint and debris inside are very flammable. Moreover, adding heat to a flammable substance is never a good idea. A burnt smell is an obvious sign you should have your dryer vent cleaned and your dryer checked - you don't want a fire started because of something simple like that.
3. Your dryer is super hot to the touch - it means the dryer isn't aired out well. Same thing if you find your clothes are extra hot when the dryer is done. The dryer needs to exchange air properly to maintain a good heat and get rid of humidity from drying clothes. Without proper air circulation the dryer will over heat, causing it to break, shorten its life span, or in the worst case - start a fire.
4. Dryer duct hood flap doesn't open. If the duct hood flap isn't opening like it usually does then there is some issue with your dryer. Try to look around for debris or lint. Sometimes the accumulation of lint near the dryer hose or vent opening restricts the flow of air. Don't let the matter persist for too long. Call for professional help so that your dryer can be cleaned and restored to its original state. Sometimes, cleaning the plastic wire mesh resolves the issue but taking external help avoids unnecessary complications.

 

How to Prevent Future Buildups and Clogs of Dryer Vent

Cleaning the dryer vent is not only money-saving but life-saving as well. From protecting people's clothes to their lives, a simple cleanup can do so much. Therefore, one shouldn't avoid these cleanups. Nowadays, people can even follow a simple DIY tutorial to clean everything themselves.

• Start by unplugging the dryer and pull out the dryer.
• Once you reach the vent duct, unscrew the clamp that tightens the vent pipe.
• Check the clamp for damages, and if any cracks are visible, immediately replace it. If not, inspect the remaining vent for clogs.
• Take a vacuum and suck all the lint and debris accumulated within the dryer. At this stage, it's good to check for any unwanted objects that might block the passageway.
• Once you're done with the cleaning, screw everything back and switch on the machine.

Doing this yearly saves your dryers from being exhausted.

 

It's Time for a Thorough Dryer Vent Cleaning

If it has been more than a year you should consider looking inside your dryer vents. Check both sides if possible - both the dryer side and the exit hood flap outside. If they look a little dirty and full of lint, it could be time for a thorough dryer vent cleaning.

If you're thinking of how to clean your dryer vent, we can help. Give us a call and get professional dryer vent cleaning from the experts.