Dryer vents are a major contributor to fires in the home. They are also the most overlooked source of carbon monoxide poisoning. Regularly scheduling and getting dryer vent cleaning done for your home is essential. Lint or other debris can cause damage to your home, and doing regular cleaning helps avoid this. In this blog, we will be talking about what dryer vents are, information about proper maintenance, and why you should have them cleaned regularly.
What Is A Dryer Vent?
A dryer vent is a tube that allows air to flow from the dryer to the outside of the house, which typically exits through an opening in the wall or roof and connects with a long flexible hose. Positioned at least 10 feet away from buildings or combustibles such as bushes and trees, a dryer vent is installed so that the end of it can safely vent outside. The other end of the hose attaches to your dryer’s exhaust port with clamps, screws, or other means of securing it tightly in place.
The purpose of a dryer vent is to provide an escape route for the moist air that comes out of your clothes during drying. Without it, moisture would build up inside your dryer cabinet and create a hazardous situation when you flip the switch. Problems like mold growth and fire hazards can happen should your dryer vent hose become clogged or kinked.
Why Cleaning Your Lint Traps Is Not Enough
You might be thinking that professional dryer vent cleaning isn’t important because you regularly clean your lint traps. It is not enough to just do that. But first, what are lint traps?
Lint traps are the things you find in your dryer that trap all of that lint that gets on your clothes as they tumble around. They’re important because they keep your dryer from getting clogged up with lint. This can cause it to malfunction and break down over time.
If you don’t have a lint trap in your dryer, or if it’s dirty, then all of the lint from your clothes will go straight into the air when you turn on your dryer. It will get all over everything else in your house.
Lint traps are not designed to filter out all of the lint, and some can still be left behind. This means that even if you clean your lint trap regularly before each load of laundry, it will still be filled with some amount of lint. This can build up in other areas of your dryer vent system and cause a fire. Therefore, it is necessary to clean out these other areas as well.
If you are experiencing problems with your dryer, the first thing you should do is check the lint trap. If there is a lot of lint in it or if it has been clogged for some time, then it can be causing your dryer to overheat. The next step is to clean out the vent system of your dryer.
What Are The Benefits Of Dryer Vent Cleaning?
Dryer vents are often overlooked when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. Dryer vent cleaning, if not done regularly, can lead to a number of dangers in your home. You should never ignore cleaning your dryer vent. This could be a potential fire hazard or cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
The biggest threat of having a dirty/clogged dryer vent is that it can cause burning or scorching of the clothes. This will result in discoloration and damage to fabrics such as cotton and wool. This also means that there is an increased risk of lint fires due to overheating from the heat source inside the dryer. Aside from preventing the risk of fire, dryer vent cleaning has other benefits:
- A clogged dryer vent can cause lint buildup and not allow air to circulate properly. In addition, if you have a natural gas or propane dryer, you’ll be reducing your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as well.
- Improved efficiency. Having a clean duct will help your clothes dry faster and save energy costs in the long run by reducing drying time so you can do more laundry in less time.
- Improved indoor air quality (IAQ). By not allowing lint buildup inside the ductwork or on other surfaces such as laundry room walls, floors, and ceiling tiles (which means fewer dust mites), IAQ is improved dramatically. Also preventing mold growth which can lead to allergies and asthma symptoms when inhaled over time. This is especially important for homes with young children who are at risk for developing these conditions later in life due to frequent exposure during early childhood development stages when their immune systems aren’t fully developed yet.
When To Schedule Dryer Vent Cleaning
You should clean your dryer vent once a year, but check the manual for your specific model to be sure. If you do have a service that cleans your dryer vent for you, it’s important to know what they’re doing. And whether or not it’s enough. This can help ensure that your home is safe and dryer vents are working properly.
You can also have your dryer vents checked if you notice certain signs like the ones we listed below:
What Are The Signs To Look Out For?
If you’re wondering whether or not you’ve been neglecting this crucial step in keeping your home safe and healthy, consider these signs:
- A musty smell comes from the exterior of your house when you run the dryer; this means mold and mildew have grown in the ductwork.
- Soot buildup on nearby walls; this could mean that debris has caught fire inside of your vents before escaping through them into other areas of the house.
- Low-quality air. If you feel like the quality of the air inside your home has changed and you find that it feels thick and heavy then maybe have a professional check if your dryer vent is clogged as well as other vents in your house including your exhausts.
- Increased allergic reactions. If you or someone in the house is allergic to dust, mold or mildew and you notice that the sneezing has increased then this may be a sign that your dryer vent is clogged.
Should You Call a Professional?
You may not realize it, but your dryer vent is an important part of your home. If you neglect to clean it regularly, you could be putting yourself and your family at risk for serious problems. If you’ve never cleaned the inside of your dryer vent before, read on. Here are some reasons why having a professional do it is so important:
- Clogged lint can cause fires in the laundry room. You wouldn’t want to leave a potential fire hazard in the hands of inexperienced cleaners including yourself. If there’s enough buildup in the ducts that air cannot pass through them easily, then lint can start building up inside the ductwork which can cause fires when ignited by something as simple as static electricity or sparks from another appliance nearby.
- If you just want to save up some money by cleaning it yourself or having inexperienced cleaners do the job then you’re putting yourself and your family at risk of inhaling mold and mildew. This can lead to serious lung infections and it can be fatal if exposed for too long.
- Professionals are fully trained to work while keeping your other valuables safe. Chances are, if you hire someone who doesn’t really know what they’re doing then they could cause damage to surrounding furniture, flooring, etc.
- They have the right tools to do the job correctly. They are fully equipped with the right tools and knowledge to dismantle your vents, clean them, and put them back as if they are brand new.
How To Find A Reputable Dryer Vent Cleaning Professional
Choosing a dryer vent cleaning professional can be a daunting task if you don’t know where to start. There are many companies that offer the service, but how do you know which one is right for you?
The first thing to do is look for reviews online. You can also ask family and friends if they have any recommendations. Or if they have had any experiences with these companies in the past.
You can check the company’s website to check its legitimacy. Con artists posing as cleaners usually don’t invest in making websites. Then, you will be able to make an informed decision based on their website if it looks real. It should include enough facts about their services, and their customers’ reviews.
Ccheck out their pricing structure as well as their policies if there are any hidden fees involved with the service. You may want to consider whether or not they offer any discounts or coupons as well. It is important to remember that some companies may offer better deals than others on certain days of the week, so it’s important to check this information before making your decision.
How To Clean Your Dryer Vent Yourself
Let’s say that for some reason, you want to attempt to clean the dryer vent yourself. Here are some tips for you to get started with this. To clean your dryer, there are a few ways to go about it. One option is to use a vacuum attachment and clean the lint trap at the front of your machine. You’ll need a long-handled brush and vacuum cleaner attachment with an end brush attachment (which looks like an old-school hairbrush). The long-handled brush will help get into hard-to-reach places while keeping hands away from potentially hot surfaces.
A second option is to purchase a dryer vent cleaning kit that includes everything you need to do so. This includes a brush that helps push lint through the ducts. A third option is to use an old shop vacuum hose with an adapter. Make sure that fits into your dryer vent opening and run it outside. This will help get any loose material in there.
You can also reach down into your exhaust ducting. Manually pull out any lint or debris using gloves or tongs if you don’t have an attachment on hand for this purpose. If there are sharp bends in these tubes then be careful not to cause damage by pulling too hard. Otherwise, just gently push forward until all visible clogs are cleared away from them.
If you decide to clean your own dryer vents, this is something worth knowing before diving in, this isn’t something to rush through. Take breaks as needed so as not to overwork yourself or give yourself unnecessary exhaustion. You won’t be able to think straight if you’re too tired. You might end up causing damage to your appliances and vents.
Risks Of Cleaning The Dryer Vent Yourself
Now you know some of the basic things you can do to clean your dryer vent yourself. Let’s start to talk about some of the risks of not letting the professionals handle the cleaning for you.
First and foremost, there’s a chance you could get hurt. You could also potentially hurt other people in your attempt to do this yourself.
Second, there is a chance that you’ll damage the dryer vent. If something goes wrong during this process (and it does happen), then things may not fit back together quite right. Leading them to not be as efficient as they should be which can cost money down the road.
Thirdly and finally, there is a chance that you will damage your dryer or house while doing this task. Professionals are fully trained to take care of your valuables while working on your dryer vents.
If you don’t clean the dryer vent properly, then lint could get clogged in the ducts and cause fires. The best way to protect yourself from these potential risks is to hire professionals.
Need Dryer Vent Cleaning in Falls Church, VA? Call TJK.
In conclusion, we hope you have learned the importance of regularly cleaning your dryer vent. It is a simple and quick task that can save you time and money on repairs in the future. For quick and easy Dryer Vent Cleaning Services, call TJK.
TJK Air Duct Cleaning is the leading air duct cleaning company in the Falls Church, Virginia area. We provide affordable home services that improve the air quality. We promote the overall health of your home by removing dirt, dust, and allergens from your air ducts. Our certified, fully insured technicians are passionate about providing you with top-notch customer services. We offer other services including Chimney cleaning, Air-duct cleaning, and General Cleaning. Call TJK today at (571) 521-3090 to schedule an appointment.
