Dryer Vent Cleaning

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  In most homes today, a clothing dryer is a common appliance and used on a regular basis. The vent of a dryer collects debris from the lint and the moisture that comes from the dryer, fluff and hair that accumulates when the clothing spins around in the machine. It should be emptied after each load, but unfortunately, not everyone makes a habit of doing so. The debris can build up over time and even clog the dryer's vent.

     Dangers of a Clogged Dryer Vent

  Believe it or not, thousands of home fires each year are started due to the dryer vent. When debris begins to clog the dryer vent, the exhaust gases produced by the dryer begin to back up and create a potential fire hazard. This can turn an otherwise helpful appliance into a disaster waiting to happen. Aside from the biggest risk of a home fire, clogged dryer vents can lead to short-circuiting and major electrical problems, overheating in the home and increased energy bills as the dryer has to work harder and harder with each spin cycle in order to dry clothes.

                                                                       What Causes a Clogged Dryer Vent

  In a nutshell, the biggest cause of a clogged dryer vent is a lack of maintenance. It is impossible to escape the fact that as water evaporates in the dryer, lint with detach from the spinning clothes and become trapped in the vent. Along with emptying the smaller lint trap included with most modern dryers, homeowners need to be vigilant about checking the length of the exhaust vent on a regular basis, or approximately once each year even when no problems are apparent. Another major cause of clogged dryer vents is placing the dryer far from the exterior wall. This creates a longer vent to take hot air outside of the home, and a longer vent simply means more opportunities for a clog. Plus, a long and winding vent exhaust pipe can be crushed up against a wall when going around a corner, which leads to major blocks and potential buildup. In some cases, birds and animals can even create nests within the dryer vent, which is a major contributing factor to a big clog.

                                                                      Increasing Energy Efficiency in a Dryer

One of the biggest reasons to clean a dryer vent is to increase the efficiency of the dryer itself. When a dryer's vent is partially blocked or even fully clogged, it has to work harder than ever to remove moisture from clothes, create heat and dry the items in the spin cycle. Running a dryer for an extended period of time is a major waste of money, and it can add up quickly for a person's monthly utility bills. In addition, the extra heat generated by the dryer with extra use and overcompensation may result in higher temperatures throughout the house, especially if the exhaust vent pipe runs through more than one room before exiting the building. A higher indoor temperature means that during the summer, the air conditioning system has to work harder as well. Dryer vent clogs can therefore lead to a waste of valuable energy resources, making them a problem for an eco-friendly home as well as additional costs for energy each month for the homeowner.

                                                                     Signs That a Dryer Vent Needs to be Cleaned

It is important to clean dryer vents before they get to the point where they could be a fire hazard. Some of the signs that a dryer vent needs to be cleaned include the following:

• Clothing comes out of the dryer much hotter than normal

• The drying cycle takes longer, or clothes are damp after a normal cycle

• The laundry room feels much hotter than normal

• The lint filter fills up quickly or appears unusual

• Utility bills rise without an explanation

• Clothes from the dryer take on a musty smell

• Dryer sheets smell odd or break down more than usual during the cycle

• When to Call in a Professional to Clean a Dryer Vent

All of the signs listed above signify that a dryer vent absolutely needs to be cleaned. Many homeowners opt to clean their dryer vents themselves, which can be done by unplugging the dryer from the wall outlet, removing the vent exhaust pipe from the dryer, vacuuming or pulling out debris from both the dryer and pipe, visually inspecting the interior of the vent pipe and checking the exterior of the home for any blockages where the exhaust vents outside. However, this can be a time consuming process, and it is not always effective. A better idea may be to call a professional. Rather than just calling a handyman, it is worth looking for a dryer exhaust technician that is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. These professionals are familiar with the biggest fire risks and can help you prevent clogs as well as eliminate any existing ones. On average, a professional dryer vent cleaning will cost anywhere from $90 to $160, depending on the severity of the clog.

                                                                    Reducing Debris in a Vent Over Time

Thankfully, there are several steps that homeowners can take to prevent debris from ever clogging the dryer vent in the first place. Instead of relying on dryer sheets for each load of laundry, opting for a liquid fabric softener can help to reduce the amount of debris created with each cycle. Instead of running the dryer for multiple cycles in a row when doing laundry, aim to let the dryer cool down for at least 15 to 20 minutes before loading it back up and turning it on for another cycle. If clogged dryer vents are a consistent problem, moving the dryer to back up against an external wall or replacing a flexible vent pipe with a solid metal pipe can help to eliminate potential clogs in the future.

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