How Often Should a Dryer Vent be Cleaned. This can cause dust and bacteria to build up, which can cause an allergy or asthma attack. Cleaning the dryer vent once a month is a good way to keep it clean and free of debris.
As a general rule, you should clean the dryer vent once a year to get rid of any lint accumulation. However, if you use the dryer frequently and your dryer duct is particularly lengthy and has several turns, you might wish to clean the vent every six months.
You might only need to clean your dryer duct every few years if you don’t use it much and it doesn’t extend very far outside.
Turning on the dryer and checking the air flow in the outer vent hood is the simplest way to determine whether your dryer vent needs to be cleaned. You should clean the dryer vent if the air movement is sluggish or slow.
Signs That Your Dryer Vent Needs Cleaning
⇒ Increase in Drying Time of Clothes
The fact that it takes your garments a long time to dry or don’t dry at all is likely the biggest indication that your dryer vent needs to be cleaned.
Your dryer’s efficiency will decline when lint blocks the air flow in the dryer duct, and eventually it won’t dry your clothing at all.
⇒ Dryer heats up quickly
The dryer and the drum can occasionally get hot to the touch if the dryer vent is filthy.
This is because there is so much lint in the dryer duct that it restricts air movement and makes it harder for heat from the dryer to escape to the outside.
Burning Odor
Turn off your dryer right away if you ever notice any strange smells coming from it, such as a burnt scent, and make an appointment for a professional cleaning. My comprehensive article about dryer burning smells is available here.
A lint clog that is smouldering inside the duct is typically the cause of a burning smell.
Due to lint’s great flammability, if it clogs a dryer vent, the heat from the dryer can set it ablaze. I’ve been in homes where dryer duct fires occurred, and dryer vent obstructions are a common cause of fires in the US.
How Does a Fire Start in a Clothes Dryer?
A fire can start in a clothes dryer many ways. The most common way is when the dryer’s belt becomes caught on something and pulls the dryer backward. This can create a spark that starts a fire. Another reason fires can start in clothes dryers is when there is crevice or hole in the dryer cover that allows heat from the dryer to escape.
A small piece of wax paper can become the fuel for the fire, as well as lint and other debris. If left burning, this debris will heat up and create a raging inferno that could consume entire racks of clothing in minutes.
A Clogged Dryer Vent’s Warning Signs
Always check to see that the dryer vent is receiving adequate airflow. If you are having trouble getting your dryer to run properly, it may be because of a clogged dryer vent. A clogged dryer Vent can cause a lot of problems for the home, such as reduced cleaning time, increased noise and decreased air circulation. If you are not able to fix your clogged dryer Vent on your own, call a professional to help.
These are indications that the dryer is not adequately exhausting heat, which could impair the appliance’s function or, worse yet, cause a fire. It’s also crucial to remember that if there are too many towels in the dryer, even in the absence of poor airflow, the towels may not dry entirely. You likely have damp bath towels since the drying capacity has been exceeded.
Because of this, many service technicians strongly advise doing smaller loads of towels. Never fill the dryer drum more than 75% full to ensure that there is enough space for the goods inside to tumble and dry effectively.
Benefits of Dryer Vent Cleaning
⇒ Energy is conserved
Regular dryer vent cleaning will increase its effectiveness and reduce the amount of power it uses. Regular dryer vent cleaning can reduce energy costs by up to 30% for homeowners.
⇒ Lower cost of maintenance
Regular dryer vent cleaning reduces the risk of overheating and clogs. It is therefore less prone to malfunction or run into a technical issue.
⇒ Lowers the danger of a fire
Lint is a substance that easily catches fire. It can start a fire that can wreak havoc if it is allowed to build up on the vent. Lint buildup can be avoided with regular cleaning, lowering the risk of fire.
It lessens the dryer’s wear and tear
Your dryer has to work twice as hard to dry your clothing if the dryer vent is not cleaned frequently. Important dryer components may become worn out by this extreme strain. Regular maintenance reduces wear and tear by increasing dryer efficiency.
Conclusion:
Even with these precautions, you should still clean your dryer vents at least once every year to get rid of waste and lint and avoid obstructions. Hire an expert to handle dryer vent cleaning if you don’t want to do it yourself.
Contact professionals for the best dryer vent and duct cleaning in Round Rock. While you might attempt to clean your dryer manually, experts warn that doing so could make matters worse because you might not get all of the lint out or you might unintentionally condense it in the vent. That increases the risk of fire damage. See More?
