To increase the dryer’s effectiveness, a dryer vent needs to be cleaned frequently. Lint and other filth and debris that are impairing the performance of the dryer can be removed with regular dryer vent cleaning.
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?
Unfortunately, a fire can easily start in a clothes dryer. Under the drum, there is a lot of fire that heats up quite quickly. The subsequent dry cycle has a tendency to exhaust the fresh elements to wherever they are when the dryer vent pipe is overloaded with lint and debris. This covers any location where air could be blasted, such the closest heating source.
A spark and some oxygen are all that are required to start a fire. The clothes in the dryer will then be used as fuel for the fire once it has started. What other combustible items might be lying around the laundry area is anyone’s guess.
A smoke detector that can serve as an early warning system for a potential fire must be installed in or close to your laundry room.
A Clogged Dryer Vent’s Warning Signs
Always check to see that the dryer vent is receiving adequate airflow. The fact that the garments are still slightly damp after the drying cycle is finished is one indication of limited airflow and a probable clog. If the lint trap is wet after the dry cycle, take note of that as well.
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!
