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How often should you clean your dryer vent?
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.
Signs that it is time to clean your dryer vent:
- Your clothes are taking much longer than usual to dry;
- Both your clothing and the dryer exterior get very hot;
- Presence of debris around the dryer hose;
- The vent hood flap does not open properly;
- The dryer vent has not been inspected for more than a year;
- You notice a strange burning smell on the clothes;
- The laundry room feels excessively hot when the dryer is running.
What does a complete dryer vent cleaning include?
Dryer vent cleaning does not just involve removing dirt from the filter. Many other things need to be checked and cleaned. Below is a step by step process on what a complete dryer vent cleaning involves.
Step 1. Inspection of the dryer vent opening. This involves going outside and inspecting the dryer vent thoroughly.
Step 2. Clearing obstacles. All dirt, debris, leaves, and animal wastes that have accumulated on the outside, thus obstructing the flow of lint, are removed.
Step 3. Lint and other materials that have accumulated on the dryer vent are removed.
Step 4. The area behind the dryer is cleaned.
Step 5. The final step involves cleaning the dryer lint trap and the drum thoroughly.
How often should you clean a lint trap vent and the dryer vent?
According to experts the lint trap vent should be cleaned after every load and dryer vent – at least once per year. However, it is recommended that you clean the dryer vent more often if:
Family size: A large family size means more loads of clothes need to be washed each day. The more often you use the dryer each day, the higher the amount of lint it accumulates. It, therefore, needs to be cleaned several times a year.
Presence of Pets: If you keep pets in your house, then it means that the vents will get clogged more quickly than in pet-free homes. It is, therefore, essential to clean the dryer frequently to remove pet hair and fur from the vent.
How often you purchase new clothes: Research has shown that new clothes produce more lint than old clothes. So, if you like buying new clothes frequently, then you need to clean your dryer vents several times a year.
Type of laundry: Bulky items like blankets and towels produce more lint that causes the dryer vent to clog quickly. Therefore, if your laundry mainly consists of bulky clothing, then it is advised that you clean your dryer vent several times a year.
What do you gain from regular dryer vent cleaning?
It saves energy: Cleaning your dryer vent regularly will help improve its efficiency, thus lowering the amount of power that it consumes. Homeowners who clean their dryer vent periodically can save up to 30% on their energy bills.
Reduced maintenance cost: When the dryer vent is cleaned regularly, it is less likely to overheat or get clogged. As a result, it is less likely to break down or experience a technical hitch.
Reduces the risk of fire: Lint is a highly flammable material. If left to accumulate on the vent, it can cause a fire that can cause havoc. Regular cleaning help to prevent lint buildup, thus preventing the risk of fire.
It reduces wear and tear on the dryer:If the dryer vent is not cleaned regularly, then the dryer is forced to work twice as hard to dry your clothes. This excessive strain can wear down crucial parts of the dryer. Regular cleaning helps to improve dryer efficiency, thus reducing wear and tear.
4 Reasons to Have Your Dryer Vent Professionally Cleaned
Reduced Fire Risk
The obvious benefit of having a professional dryer vent cleaning is to reduce your fire risk. Lint is an extremely flammable substance, and an estimated 15,000 houses burn down each year because of it. While cleaning the dryer trap yourself is a good start, it’s no substitute for a deep professional cleaning.
Fewer Repairs
Clogged dryer vents put a lot of wear and tear on the appliance, leading to a higher risk of a breakdown. Dryers aren’t cheap, so most residents end up calling a repair technician to fix the problem. Over time, these repairs start to add up, costing more than a professional cleaning or even a new dryer. If you find yourself calling for a dryer repair a second time, you should ask your HVAC specialist about a vent cleaning.
Shorter Drying Times
A dryer that’s clogged with lint takes more time to dry clothes. That’s because lint buildup makes it difficult for the humid air to escape, allowing moisture to persist. By having your dryer vents professionally cleaned, you can shorten drying times and spend less time waiting on those clean clothes.
Lower Energy Bills
When your dryer takes longer to dry clothes due to a lint clog, it ends up using more energy. Naturally, this means spending more money on utilities. Having your dryer vents regularly maintained meaning higher energy efficiency, lower energy bills, and less money spent just to dry your clothes.
With so many benefits associated with a professional dryer vent cleaning, why wouldn’t you enlist the help of Vent Pros NH? Call us at 603-658-5511 to schedule your dryer vent cleaning. You can sleep easier knowing your home is safe and your energy bills are in check.
From the U.S. Fire Administration
The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them. Help increase awareness about clothes dryer fires in your community with these messages and free materials.
More Home Clothes Dryer Fires Occur in the Fall and Winter Months, Peaking in January
It is important for community residents to know how to keep themselves safe from fire. Use the following fire safety messages to teach people about clothes dryer fire safety.
Clothes Dryer Do’s
Installation
- Have your clothes dryer installed by a professional.
- Make sure the correct electrical plug and outlet are used and that the dryer is connected properly.
- Read manufacturers’ instructions and warnings in use and care manuals that come with new dryers.
Cleaning
- Clean the lint filter before and after each load of laundry. Don’t forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can build up. In addition, clean the lint filter with a nylon brush at least every six months or more often if it becomes clogged.
- Clean lint out of the vent pipe every three months.
- Have your dryer cleaned regularly by a professional, especially if it is taking longer than normal for clothes to dry.
Maintenance
- Inspect the venting system behind the dryer to ensure it is not damaged or restricted.
- Put a covering on outside wall dampers to keep out rain, snow and dirt.
- Make sure the outdoor vent covering opens when the dryer is on.
- Replace coiled-wire foil or plastic venting with rigid, non-ribbed metal duct.
- Have gas-powered dryers inspected every year by a professional to ensure that the gas line and connection are together and free of leaks.
- Check regularly to make sure nests of small animals and insects are not blocking the outside vent.
- Keep the area around the clothes dryer free of items that can burn.
- If you will be away from home for an extended time, unplug or disconnect the dryer.
What Are You Waiting For?
Let's Get Those Vents Cleaned!