If you have been experiencing;
or simply it has taken more than year since you last cleaned your dryer vent – you need to call us!
Dryer Vent Cleaning should be done at least once a year for safety reasons alone. Too much build up in the vent can cause fires.
Dryer Vent Fires can be prevented by following simple steps, says Richard Handel of Consumer Reports:
Not once a month, or even once a week: “Clean the lint from the dryer’s lint screen after every load,” says Richard Handel, the test engineer who oversees CR’s laundry appliance lab. “This helps prevent a fire, and it also helps your laundry dry faster.”
Generally, dryers are equipped with a 4-inch vent in the back, which homeowners or installers connect to the exterior vent with a duct. But not all ducts will do.
If you see a plastic or foil accordion-style duct connecting your appliance to the vent, it’s a good idea to replace it. These are risky because they can sag, allowing lint to build up at low points and trapping lint in their ridges.
Handel recommends a rigid metal duct. “The smooth walls allow the air to flow, and also reduce the buildup of lint,” he says. “A flexible metal duct should be your second choice.”
One other tip: Use duct connectors and metal clamps or foil tape to join sections of duct rather than sheet-metal screws, which can catch lint and cause buildup inside the duct.
If you notice that your dryer takes longer to dry laundry than it used to, that’s a clue that there may be a blockage in the dryer vent system. When you’re drying a load, go outside and look at the vent. Do you see or feel exhaust air? If not, the vent or exhaust duct may be blocked with lint.
Start by disconnecting your dryer from the power source. And if you have a gas dryer, also turn off the gas valve near the dryer.
“Carefully slide the dryer away from the wall so that you can access the vent that’s typically in the back of the dryer,” Handel says. “If you have a gas dryer, take care not to overstretch or damage the gas line.”
Disconnect the duct from the dryer, and vacuum both the dryer and the duct—as much as you can access. Where possible, separate the duct into shorter sections for better access, then reassemble and attach the duct to the dryer. Be sure all joints in the duct are properly connected and held together with clamps or foil tape. Then return the dryer to its original spot and reconnect the power.
While you’re at it, clean behind the dryer and underneath it—lint builds up there, too. In winter, check after windy weather or snowstorms to be sure that snow isn’t blocking the outdoor vent.
Clothes stained with gas, cooking oil, cleaning agents, or other flammable chemicals or substances need special care. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends washing such stained clothing more than once to minimize volatile chemicals, then hanging to dry.
If you must use a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that concludes with a cool-down period.
In the event that a fire does start, keep the dryer door closed to limit its oxygen supply—a fire needs oxygen to keep it going.
Dust removal from dryer vent that is sent to the outside of the house.
Dryer Vent Hose
Every year, firefighters across the country respond to around 15,000 home fires caused by clothes dryers, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
About 27 percent of these fires is caused by an accumulation of lint, which means that not cleaning out your dryer vent can set you up for a dangerous situation that’s far more serious than the drop in performance caused by constricting a dryer’s duct work. Basic airflow is essential for a dryer to make your clothes dry, without proper airflow, it makes it extremely hard for your dryer to work.
You may even notice it starts to take longer to dry your clothes from the accumulation of lint and dust inside of the dryer vent. Often this vent goes from inside your house to a hole or vent outside of your house. Sometimes, bird nests are formed inside of the vent because the location of the vent is a great place for birds to build a next. Make sure to keep your vents properly inspected and cleaned on a yearly basis to prevent clogging and poor circulation.
If you experience any of these issues, don’t wait any longer. Give us a call and ask about our Dryer Vent cleaning services in Houston, Tx.
Do you really need it? Yes, if you value your family and equipment then you need to ensure that your dryer vent is clean at all times. Failure to clean your dryer vent can expose you to fire hazards that can damage property and god forbid – even life. That is why The US Fire administration recommends cleaning the dryer vents at least once per year.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Houston, Texas is provided by Ductly Pro Services.
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