How Often To Clean Dryer Vents

How Often To Clean Dryer Vents

Dryer vents are an integral component of a common appliance found in many households and inside the laundry rooms of most apartment and condominium complexes. Proper maintenance of these items is critical for a variety of safety, economical and efficiency reasons. Superior Dryer Vent Cleaning, a professional dryer vent company located in the Dallas, Texas region answers the important inquiry: how often should dryer vents be cleaned?

What Are The Purpose Of Dryer Vents?

A dryer removes the moisture contained inside recently washed clothing by generating hot air. These warm air currents are fostered out of the home or laundry room from within where the appliance is located to the outdoors through a vent.

Without proper ventilation, instead of being directed outdoors, warm air would circulate inside.

How Do Dryer Vents Become Clogged?

Typically, after a specific amount of time or usages, the filter often becomes clogged by lint, dust, dirt and small particles of clothing.

What Could Happen If Dryer Vents Are Not Cleaned?

Health Issues:

  • Stale Air
    Such a circumstance could precipitate exceedingly high indoor temperatures and the exposure of air to humidity that would make for uncomfortable conditions and potentially lead to these vapors developing mold and other airborne allergens that could pose a health threat to those breathing them.
  • Breeding Ground For Pests
    If the vent grows so clogged that its flap experiences difficult shutting, the structure could provide a breeding ground for various pests such as mice, rats and birds. This is especially true during wintertime when those creatures seek shelter from harsh weather conditions. Not only might pests cause expensive damage but could carry potentially serious illnesses.

Safety Issues:

  • Fire
    Vents overfilled with lint prevents the smooth flow of air. When air flow is restricted, the vent may experience a buildup of gases. The increased presence of these volatile substances, high levels of heat and combustible particles like lint provides a serious fire danger.

Economical Issues:

  • Increased Electric Bills
    A clogged vent will eventually force the dryer to which it is attached to work harder to achieve its intended results. Therefore, it will necessitate the usage of more power to perform properly. The end result for the homeowner could be exceedingly high energy bills.

How Often To Clean Dryer Vent?

Many dryer vent professionals suggest that vents be cleaned and inspected at least once per year. However, more cleanings and examinations should be considered if the dryers are located in frequently used locations like laundry rooms are or utilized more than average in a private home. In short, the answer to the question of how often should you clean dryer vent? In many instances and for many people, the easy answer is, more often than you probably have previously.

For more answers to the inquiry how often to clean dryer vent or information about any of our other services which include vent repair, rerouting and replacement, please contact Superior Dryer Vent Cleaning. We serve the entire North Texas area. To schedule a dryer vent cleaning or for any other questions, visit www.superiordryervent.com.

QUESTIONS? CALL US : (214) 494-9740

Dryer Vent Repair & Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

Dryer Vent Repair & Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

A clothes dryer is an important appliance in our homes as it makes the whole laundry process much more simple and less time-consuming. However, we appreciate this appliance, but we do not give it the services and maintenance it deserves. According to the United States Fire Department, 80% of the 15,000 fires that occur annually are directly or indirectly caused by a clogged dryer vent. It is important that you repair dryer vent annually to lower the chances of fire build-ups. To avoid these fires which lead to death and destruction of properties, it is essential that you equip yourself with some dryer vent maintenance and repair tips.

• Remove Lint Regularly

There are small fabric materials that break from our clothes due to friction when we are sitting or wearing our clothes. These materials tend to remain on the dryer when we use the machine. It is recommended that you remove these pieces of garments from your dryer vent as they are known to cause serious problems when they accumulate. You can easily remove these natural fabrics by use of a small brush.

• Check the Dryer Vent Termination Hood or “Cap”

This is where your dryer vent ends–allowing the air, heat, moisture and lint from your clothes dryer to exhaust to the outside of your home or building. Therefore, you should ensure that it has a free flow of air without any restrictions which will ensure that it performs at optimum levels. Even if your dryer vent is squeaky clean, if the termination hood, vent or cap isn’t designed for dryer vents or is blocked it can cause all sorts of problems for your dryer and become a potential fire hazard. Per building code, the dryer’s exhaust duct termination must be equipped with a backdraft damper (a flap the closes when the dryer isn’t running and opens when it is) and it can not have any type of screen or “guard” covering it!

• Consider Drying Time

Some dryer machines that have a clogged venting system tend to take too long to dry the clothes. Lint is known to clog the venting system, and you should ensure that you clean all the lint out after every cycle of loading. Lint alert also helps you to find out whether there is any blockage of your vent system. Cleaning to unblock the vent system is essential as it prevents the buildup of carbon monoxide in your house.

• Clean Interiors of Your Dryer

Although you can be perfect at removing lint from your lint filter or lint screen every time you use your dryer, you should consider cleaning the interior parts of the dryer as well. If your dryer vent was installed improperly Lint can build up inside the actual dryer as well. This can easily be done using a vacuum cleaner. This should be done when dryer vent maintenance is being done because the system is usually disassembled.

• Replace Dryer Lint Filters

Filters do most of the work, and they are likely to be damaged now and then. Therefore, dryer vent repair should be done regularly so that you can replace the worn-out filters while at the same time replacing other broken or ineffective parts. Dryer vent repair should be carried out regularly, especially when you have a feeling that your machine is not performing to its expected levels.

• Don’t Leave Your Dryer in Use

Many people tend to leave their dryer machine in use as they walk out of the house to a distance place. This is not recommended as anything can happen and you are not close enough to troubleshoot the problem.

In case you need repair and maintenance assistance for your dryer, Superior Dryer Vent Cleaning offers services like cleaning, repairing, replacing and rerouting dryer vents across North Texas. Call Superior Dryer Vent Cleaning today or schedule an inspection online for professional dryer vent cleaning!