Most of us use our dryers every day—or at least once a week. We love and depend on them, but we also can take them for granted, forgetting they need to be well maintained.
A lot of us are faithful when it comes to cleaning the lint tray, but what about the dryer vent? When was the last time you had the vent cleaned? A good answer to that question is to have a professional clean the vent once a year, maybe during your annual spring cleaning. But no matter what the date, the important thing to remember is to mark it on your calendar–annually.
Like a car’s exhaust pipe, the dryer vent is the tube that runs from your dryer to the exterior of your home. This is where all the moisture in your clothes escapes. But over time, lint, dust, and other microscopic particles can build up in the vent, making the dryer work harder and leading to potential problems that shouldn’t be ignored.
First, you want to be sure that the vent exhausts all the way out of the house or else extra moisture can stay inside your home–such as in a wall or attic. This is how mold grows. Second, vents remove any dangerous fumes from your dryer, including carbon monoxide. Poor ventilation could mean some of this poisonous gas is remaining inside the house, which threatens the health and life of you and your family.
Warning Signs Your Dryer Vent Needs To Be Cleaned
If you’re not sure your vent needs cleaning, here are 7 possible warning signs:
- Clothes take longer than normal to dry. If an average load is still damp after about 45 minutes, there may be too much lint in the vent, trapping the moisture in.
- Clothes are unusually hot to the touch. We want our clothes to feel warm out of the dryer, but if they are too hot (and yet still damp), the dryer may be overheating from the vent’s restricted air flow.
- The laundry room is warmer than normal when the dryer is running. Materials trapped in the vent can cause excessive heat and humidity to build up in the room.
- You notice burning smells. A burning smell on clothes or in the laundry room is a serious sign that lint is stuck in the vent. Since lint is flammable and dryers are hot, this is a potential fire hazard.
- The outside vent hood or lint flap isn’t opening all the way. Make sure when the dryer is running that the lint flap is open. A damaged vent can keep the lint trapped.
- The dryer tells you there’s a problem. Look for an air-flow warning light or error code indicating the system isn’t working efficiently.
- The dryer stops working. Dryers that detect too much head can automatically shut off. You might think you need a new dryer, but the cause may just be a dirty vent.
The Many Benefits of a Clean Dryer Vent
Here are some of the important benefits of having your dryer vent cleaned:
- Reduces the risk of fire. Lint is highly flammable.
- Greatly reduces the time it takes to dry a load of laundry, which saves you time.
- Lowers the energy consumption the dryer uses, which decreases your utility bills.
- Reduces costly appliance repairs and extends the life of the dryer.
- Increases the durability of your clothing by preventing fabrics from getting overheated
- Protects the health and life of you and your family, including the threat from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Bactronix Can Improve the Efficiency of Your Dryer—and Keep You Safe!
Bactronix dryer exhaust specialists have over 55 combined years in the air duct cleaning industry. They are C-DET (Certified Dryer Exhaust Technical) accredited through the CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America), which means they have completed the proper training and testing to clean all clothes dryer exhaust systems.
The Bactronix dryer exhaust specialist will clean your duct using a flexible rod system and an assortment of air-powered tool heads, which spin and scrub the interior walls of the duct, loosening the lint and dust. The debris is extracted outside at the vent hood.
Inside the house, the technician disconnects the duct from the rear of the dryer, cleaning it and inspecting it for rips or tears. Bactronix service vans are fully stocked with any replacement parts, and if your dryer needs a part, the specialist can quote you a price.
In addition, your dryer is tested for the proper exhaust pressure. If you are concerned about any animals nesting inside your vent, Bactronix can install a bird and pest guard.
You have enough on your plate without worrying about how clean your dryer vent is. Now is the time to scratch this problem off of your to-do list and rest assured. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment. Happy drying!
