What happens if you dont clean your dryer vents?

What happens if you dont clean your dryer vents?

Have you ever found yourself in the midst of trying to make some headway through your family’s seemingly never ending flow of dirty laundry and being shocked at the amount of lint that you find in your dryer’s lint trap?  Where does it all come from?  How is possible that you even have any clothing left after the lint trap gets filled after each load of laundry? 

Experts at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) recommend that you clean out your dryer’s lint trap after every load of laundry.  This is important because if you don’t clean it out, it prevents the dryer from being able to exhaust hot air from the dryer, causing the dryer to overheat.  Failure to clean the dryer’s lint trap is the leading cause of home laundry dryer fires.

While you may be amazed at the amount of lint that you find in your dryer’s lint trap, the reality is that much of the lint from your clothes still makes it past the lint trap and into the ductwork that exhausts it to the exterior of your home.  Over time, that ductwork becomes more and more clogged with that lint.  

Here are the top four signs that it is time to have your dryer exhaust vent professionally cleaned:

If any of these four signs are true for you, then it is time to have your dryer exhaust vent professionally cleaned.

  1. Your clothing is taking longer to dry than it once did
  2. You find yourself having to turn the dryer on for another cycle after it has stopped
  3. You find your clothing very hot to touch when you remove it from the dryer
  4. Its been more than one year since you last had it cleaned

How often Does Your Dryer Exhaust Vent Actually Need to be Cleaned?

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that you have your dryer exhaust vent cleaned at least once per year.

What happens if you skip your dryer vent cleaning?

If you skip your dryer exhaust vent cleaning, there are a few key things that could happen ranging from time consuming and costly to catastrophic.  

  • Your clothes will take longer to dry – wasting your time and consuming more energy, which costs you more money in operating costs
  • The heating element in your dryer can burn out resulting in costly repairs
  • Your dryer and home could catch on fire

When you properly maintain your clothes dryer by cleaning out your lint trap after each load and have your dryer exhaust vent professionally cleaned at least once per year, you will increase the efficiency of your dryer, reduce drying times, and protect your family from a house fire.  Discover more about dryer exhaust vent cleaning, see pricing, and schedule your appointment here.

For many people, dryers are just part of the furniture. When air filters are changed, it's part of house maintenance. When gutters are cleaned, it's part of house maintenance. No one thinks of checking the dryer vent, much less cleaning it. This is a big mistake, and one that can cost homeowners their lives. Here's why:

What Is a Dryer Vent?

Oddly, a lot of people clean the lint filter in the dryer door or body and think “well, that's that”. Hardly anyone wonders what's going on with the tubing at the back of the dryer. That's the hose that leads to the dryer vent to the outside. Lint gets out of the dryer, too, but not through the lint trap. Dangerous heat levels also get out of the dryer, vented to the outside.

How Can Heat Be Dangerous?

Lint and debris collect in dryer vents. This causes the clothes to remain moist. The dryer has to work overtime with more and more heat in order to dry the clothes. The machine wasn't made for that degree of heat. With the debris blocking the vent, the machine overheats. This could and has caused a house fire.

Where Does Debris Come From?

In today's homes, laundry rooms are located anywhere but against an outside wall. Venting meanders through walls, turning corners and generally making it difficult to keep the vent clean. Small animals and birds bring their nest-making materials with them when they find a warm place for a winter vacation. This adds up to blockage, which could and has begun house fires.

Any Other Dangers if I Don't Clean My Dryer Vent?

Yes. If you have a gas dryer, then blockage will cause a dangerous carbon monoxide backup. This deadly gas will be forced into your house. Remember that it can't be seen or smelled. Get the vent checked at least once a year.

If you need a professional dryer vent cleaning service or chimney cleaning service, contact the team at Power Vac Duct Cleaning Today.

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Is it necessary to clean dryer vents?

A dryer vent needs to be cleaned regularly to enhance the dryer's efficiency. Regular dryer vent cleaning helps to remove lint and other dirt and debris that are obstructing the dryer performance.

How do you know if your dryer vent is clogged?

The Warning Signs and Dangers of Clogged Dryer Vents.
It takes longer than usual to dry your clothes. ... .
You notice a burning smell. ... .
Your clothes are hot to the touch at the end of a load. ... .
You can see lint or debris in the dryer hose or around the outside dryer flap. ... .
You haven't cleaned out your vents in over a year..

How often are you supposed to clean your dryer vent?

Dryer exhaust vents should be inspected and cleaned at least once a year depending on the size of the household and dryer usage. “I have four children and do lots of laundry, so I clean it three times a year,” said Smith.