Dryer Vent Cleaning and the Benefits

When was the last time you had your dryer vent cleaned? Lint and debris can build up in your clothes dryer duct causing your dryer to exhaust at less than optimum efficiency. This creates potentially hazardous conditions including carbon monoxide intrusion into your home, and the possibility of fires. If a gas clothes dryer is improperly vented or the exhaust duct itself is blocked by lint or debris, carbon monoxide can be forced back into your living space.
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We inspect, clean, and verify that the venting system is sized and installed correctly. For example, plastic transition ducts (joining the dryer to the wall) should be replaced with metal ducts because it is non-flammable, unlike plastic, which could melt with high temperatures. Annual dryer exhaust vent inspections (also known as dryer exhaust duct inspections) are more necessary due to the complex construction of today’s homes.

Dryers in newer homes are typically located away from outside walls in bathrooms, kitchens, and hall closets which is convenient, but potentially dangerous from a safety standpoint. These locations mean longer venting distances often installed with more bends. As a result, dryer ducts are harder to access and this additional length creates more surface area where lint can collect and animals and birds can hide.

Why Clean My Dryer Vents

According to the US Fire Administration, between 2002 and 2004 clothes dryers counted for about 15,600 reported structure fires, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries annually. “Failure to clean” is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. We can see to the proper maintenance of dryer vents, including applicable codes and standards relating to these systems. In addition to these safety considerations, annual clothes dryer exhaust inspections can increase the efficiency of your clothes dryer and decrease the wear on your appliance saving you money.

WHAT WILL DRYER VENT CLEANING DO FOR ME?

​What will dryer vent cleaning do for me? That’s a reasonable question. After all, you’ve likely never even heard of it. But here are the benefits of having your dryer vent cleaned and inspected.

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Dryer Vent Cleaning Prevents Breakdowns!

If your dryer takes twice as long to dry clothes as it should, the number of loads that it will dry is cut in half. When the dryer runs at higher than designed temperatures, the life of your clothes dryer decreases. This can lead to the heating element burning out or a fire could ignite as a result of overworked safety controls.​

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​Dryer Vent Cleaning increases safety

A clean exhaust duct prevents heat, moisture, and in the case of gas clothes dryers, carbon monoxide from being trapped in your home. All of these potentially dangerous or harmful conditions can be eliminated simply by having your dryer vents cleaned at regular intervals. When this type of spillage occurs, energy, natural resources, and time are all wasted because your appliance works too hard and runs longer than necessary. Moisture can also cause damage to drywall, wallpaper, ceilings, and other building materials.

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​Dryer Vent Cleaning improves efficiency

The Dryer you use to dry your clothes is in fact a furnace! Not a fact that everyone thinks of. It may be specialized for drying your clothes. But the operating principles are the same as the equipment you use to heat your home. Thinking of it this way, you’ve probably heard how a dirty furnace or dirty filter can damage your furnace, and increase the number of resources utilized to operate, and heat your home. The same is true for your dryer, and improving its ability to “breath” and exhaust properly allows your dryer to use less electricity and gas resulting in lower utility usage.