Dealing with dirty dryer vents? Each time you use your dryer, lint and dirt are trapped inside the dryer vent. Most of us don’t think about dryer vents on a regular basis. However, if we neglect them for too long, dryer vents can become very dangerous quite quickly.
The bad thing is that dryer vents are a very considerable safety hazard for your home. It is important to have a routine cleaning for the vent on a regular basis. Not only is it because they collect a lot of lint and debris, but they can also clog. Clogs in your dryer vent can lead to a lot of trouble if you aren’t careful.
Let’s discuss the dangers of dirty dryer vents. We will also help you understand the best ways to clean dryer vents and what you need to do to prevent any type of safety hazard.
The Dangers of Clothes Dryer Fires
Your clothes dryer serves as a workhorse, ensuring that your laundry is entirely clean, dry, and smelling great. Once you remove the laundry from the clothes dryer, you probably dump it in the basket and go on with your day.
However, there are dangers lurking when it comes to your clothes dryer. This is especially true for the dryer vent. But at what level should you be concerned about your clothes dryer?
Let’s consider the frequency of clothes dryers catching on fire here in the United States. Each year, there are at least 2900 reported incidents of dryer fires. Out of these 2900 dryer fires, there are five deaths reported each year. There are also an estimated 100 injuries and 35 million dollars in property damage.
What Causes Dryer Fires?
According to the US fire Administration, 34% of dryer fires are the result of failure to clean them. The small act of ensuring that the dryer vent is clean and unclogged can save you from headaches and expensive damages, not to mention the risk of injury and even death.
The US Fire Administration also notes that most dryer fires occur in the fall and winter, with Peak dryer Fire season being in January.
How Often Should You Clean Your Dryer Vent?
Now that you know the dangers of dryer fires, you might be wondering how often you should clean your vent. This is especially true in terms of preventing dryer fires.
When it comes to cleaning the dryer vent, You should have the ducts cleaned at least twice a year. This ensures that all debris is efficiently removed out of the duct and reduces the risk of catching fire. At the very least, make sure that you clean out the dryer vent at least once per year.
What are the Signs that You Need to Clean the Dryer Vent?
Maybe it has been a while since you cleaned your dryer vent, or maybe you have never cleaned it at all. You might also be wondering about the signs to expect when it is time to clean the dryer vent.
Generally, you can expect to experience one or more of the following signs when it’s time to clean the dryer vent:
- Your clothes are taking much longer than normal to dry. If you go through an entire drying cycle and notice that it takes at least one more cycle to get them dry, the problem might lie within your dryer vent.
- You may notice that your dryer is hot to the touch. A touch of your hand can determine if the interior and exterior of the dryer is very hot. Proceed with caution if you feel heat radiating from the dryer, and don’t attempt to touch it if you suspect it is very hot.
- Take a look at the dryer hose, do you notice debris? If so, this is a sign that your dryer vents need cleaning.
- If you have not inspected or cleaned the dryer vent within the last year, consider it a priority to complete this task as soon as possible.
- You may also notice that your clothing, towels, or any other items that you place in the dryer come out smelling like an odd burning scent. If you smell burning while the dryer is in use, stop it immediately and consider contacting someone to help clean out the dryer vent.
What About the Dryer Lint Trap?
Note that there is a difference between the dryer vent and the dryer lint trap. The dryer lint trap is the small container on the front or side of your dryer. You pull this out and remove lint that is trapped inside during a drying cycle.
How often do you clean out a dryer lint trap? Ideally, you should clean out the lint trap with every drying cycle. Allowing lint and debris to build up inside the dryer lint trap can pose a threat of fire, just as a clogged dryer vent will do as well.
Clean Out the Vent and Trap Frequently if . . .
Meanwhile, the number of times that you clean the dryer lint trap, as well as your dryer vent, can slightly vary for each family. There are some indicators that determine how frequently you must clean each component for the best results and safety practices.
You Have a Large Family
A large family means that you are frequently doing a lot of clothes. If you are washing large amounts of clothes on a regular basis, especially if you have a large family, make it a habit to clean out the dryer lint trap each time that you run a dry cycle.
You Have Pets that Shed
We love our fur babies, but pets shed hair and some do so in large amounts. The pet hair sticks on our clothes, bedding, and more. If you have pets that shed, you should also make it a habit to clean out your dryer lint trap and the vent on a regular basis. This is because pet hair compounds over time, which can easily clog inside the dryer vent.
You Frequently Buy New Clothes
Do you buy a lot of new clothes? If so, this is another sign that you need to clean out the dryer vent and dryer lint trap on a regular basis. This is because new clothes are known to let off more lint than old clothes.
You Wash a lot of Bulky Items
Do you frequently wash towels, bedding, and blankets? If so, make sure that you do your due diligence and clean out the dryer lint trap between a cycle. You also want to get your dryer vent clean-out at least twice a year. This is because bulky laundry items tend to trap more lint than smaller size clothes.
How Do You Clean a Dryer Vent?
Now that you understand the Importance of cleaning your dryer vent and even dryer trap, you might wonder how you clean a dryer vent in the first place. Luckily, the dryer trap is easy enough to clean now. You simply pull out the trap from your dryer and remove the lint with your fingers and throw it away.
However, the process of cleaning a dryer vent is not quite as quick and easy. There are DIY kits that you can get to clean a dryer vent. You can also remove the lint from the trap by hand and then vacuum the inside of the duct with extensions of the vacuum.
You will also need to go outside and remove the exterior vent cover. This will give you direct access inside the vent to remove any clogs and debris.
Should You Hire a Professional to Clean Your Dryer Vent?
If you don’t feel comfortable cleaning out a dryer vent, we have good news for you. We are experts and cleaning and drying vent, giving you all of the advantages and benefits of professional cleaning.
Furthermore, we have the proper tools and equipment to get the job done right. This means that there is no guesswork involved for you when it comes to cleaning your dryer vents. You also won’t have to step back and wonder if you did enough to keep your home safe and reduce the risk of fire hazards.
Unfortunately, the Christmas and winter seasons are more susceptible to house fire outbreaks. Ensuring that your dryer vent is clean and in working order can significantly reduce the risk of dryer fires, which can leave your family in a very dangerous situation.
Are you ready to get your dryer vent cleaned adequately and correctly? Please contact us to get started. We are your trusted local dryer vent experts!