Dryer Duct Cleaning
Did you know you that dryer duct cleaning can significantly reduce the risk of having a fire in your dyer? Every year there are thousands of fires that result in death or injury because of dryer vents. And hundreds of peoples are exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning because vents are not properly cleaned.
Over one million dollars a year in losses occurs and in most cases it is because something as simple as cleaning a vent is neglected. Don’t be a statistic!
Lint accumulates in the vent and reduces the air that flows through the vent. That means heat also accumulates in the vent and with the lint present you’ve got the perfect mix for combustion. Fire erupts in your vent and you don’t even know it until it’s out of control.
In past generations the dryer was usually found in a basement with usually just a short vent run to the wall. But in the modern home a dryer can be located almost anywhere which means that you can have a really long vent run with lots of twists and turns. The longer the run and the more bends the higher the risk. The optimum install is short and straight. Too long a run not only increases the fire risk but also decreases the drying capability of your dryer.
The installation of a dryer vent booster can help. It’s not the perfect solution but it’s much better than just the long runs with no assistance.
Lint is the biggest problem your dryer will encounter yet it is the easiest to deal with. Your dryer provides an amazing amount of lint off your clothing and one of the most common mistakes made is to clean the lint trap and think that’s all there is to it.
Much of the lint is never caught by the lint trap and works its way into the vent pipes and even onto the heating element. You should regularly check underneath the lint trap, on the heating element, and at least twice a year you should vacuum out the vent pipes.
There are many things which can restrict the air flow in your dryer vent which will cause the build up of lint. Here are the most common causes which can be easily prevented:
1. Too long of a run or too many bends without the use of a booster. Short and straight is better.
2. Using flimsy plastic vent hose or even flammable hose. You should always use metal vent piping and vents. They are also less likely to collapse and thus more likely to push the lint out the vent.
3. Proper clearance is needed between the wall and dryer and too often the clearance isn’t enough and the vent gets crushed reducing the air flow and causing lint to get built up. If the flow is too restricted the high temperature safety will trip out the dryer when it begins to overheat. The trouble is the switches tend to fail if they are tripped too often which then causes a high fire risk.
4. Failing to clean the dryer vent after each cycle.
If your dryer is taking much longer to dry your clothes than it normally does or it seems to be running a lot hotter it is definitely time to check for lint blockages.
A little common sense and you can reduce your risk of dryer fires:
1. Properly install and use the right material.
2. Use solid metal pipes and avoid using plastic dryer hose.
3. The dryer vent needs to be installed on an outside wall and vent to the exterior.
4. Do not kink or crush the hose.
5. Minimize the number of bends and keep the run as short as possible.
6. Use 4 inch diameter pipe whenever possible.
7. Keep the dryer duct in top condition – disconnect and inspect it at least three or four times a year. Use your vacuum to remove any trapped lint.
8. Every couple of years take your dryer apart and vacuum out the underside. You could even call a technician if you like.
Follow these tips and remember to never leave your dryer running when you are out of the house. And remember dryer duct cleaning will reduce your risk of fire.
