Chimney Care Company's Blog

When was the last time you have your clothing dryer vents cleaned?

Keeping your clothing dryer vents cleaned is an incredibly important part of your home maintenance. Clean dryer vents help to prevent the dryer from overheating to cause a fire. A clean dryer vent also runs more efficiently while saving you time and money, as it takes less time for it to dry each load of laundry. When was the last time you had your dryer vents cleaned? How do you know it is time to get your clothing dryer vents cleaned?

The experts in the industry recommend getting your dryer vents cleaned at least once every year. However, if you do more laundry than the average household, your dryer vents might need to be cleaned more often. If you struggle with remembering the last time you had your dryer vents cleaned, then it is likely that it’s time to schedule a dryer vent cleaning. Here are some signs for a clogged dryer vent.

Signs of a dysfunctional Dryer Vent

  1. Longer dry times. One of the first signs that your dryer vents need a cleaning is longer than normal dry times when doing a single load of laundry. When your dryer vents are clogged, you’ll have to run additional dryer cycles for your clothes to dry completely. A single load of laundry shouldn’t take longer than 30 to 40 minutes to dry, and heavier loads of towels or linens shouldn’t take more than 50 minutes to dry.
  2. Lint buildup. Your dryer could be bogged down with an accumulation of lint. When dryer vents are clogged, you might see lint collecting around the lint trap, on the floor behind the dryer, or even outside around your dryer vent exhaust.
  3. An overheating dryer. When your dryer vents are clogged, your dryer can’t vent and cool itself as it should. As a result, the dryer will overheat while running. A dryer that’s hot to the touch, or if there is a heat build up in your laundry room when your dryer is running. These are both signs of clogged dryer vents. You might also notice that the clothes coming out of the dryer seem unusually hot.
  4. Strong smells in the laundry room. There are a variety of smells as a result of clogged dryer vents. While the dryer is running, you might smell a strong burning odor while the dryer overheats, or the smell of your dryer sheets seem unusually strong. If clothes sit damp in the dryer for a long time, your laundry or your laundry room might also take on a musty smell.

Call the Chimney Care Co. Professionals

Clogged dryer vents can put your home at risk of potential dangers such as a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. If it’s been awhile since you last serviced your dryer vents, or if you have noticed some signs that your dryer vents have become clogged, call the professionals at Chimney Care Co. to schedule your dryer vent cleaning today!

Being Fire Safe With A Dryer Vent Cleaning

Being Safe With a Dryer Vent Cleaning - Cincinnati, OH - Chimney Care CompanyLaundry is part of life’s weekly grind, but did you know that dryers cause roughly 2,900 home structure fires, 5 deaths, 100 injuries and $35 million in direct property loss in the U.S. each year? What’s more, the majority of dryer fires happen in the fall and winter months, with the peak being in January. The most common cause of dryer fires is failure to do a thorough cleaning. Because a lint trap is not a foolproof method for catching all the fuzzy stuff in your dryer, lint can gradually build up and catch fire in the heating element or exhaust duct. Many people are under the impression that cleaning these vents isn’t all that important. Unfortunately for them, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

RECIPE FOR A HOUSE FIRE

Clogged dryer vents are an accident waiting to happen. A partially obstructed vent filled with lint can cause increased drying times and waste energy while a blocked vent can lead to a fire. There are numerous warning signs that will indicate that you have a dirty dryer vent: your clothes are still damp after a complete drying cycle, there’s excessive heat buildup in your laundry room, and/or your dryer is used frequently. One of the ways—perhaps the best way—to decrease the chances of a dryer fire in your home is to simply clean your lint trap before or after every laundry load of clothes.

LINT BUILDUP IS COSTLY

Aside from the inherent danger of fire, buildup of dirt and lint in the dryer vent can also significantly increase your energy consumption, thereby costing you more money. The increased energy usage is due in large part to your dryer taking more time to dry your clothes because of the blockage; it has to work twice as hard to accomplish the same amount of work. Possible signs that a dirty or clogged dryer vent may be to blame include: your dryer no longer dries the clothes in one cycle, your clothes carry a musty smell after a full drying cycle, your dryer seems to run hotter than normal, a visible amount of lint is noticed around the lint filter, and debris is noticed within the dryer vent opening on the outside of your home.

CLEANING DRYER VENTS IS A MUST!

To avoid this potentially dangerous buildup in your vents, following a predetermined maintenance schedule is important. The majority of dryer vents need to be cleaned at least once a year; some dryer ducts need more frequent attention. Some determining factors include: the number of people who are using the same dryer, the age and condition of the dryer, and the length of your dryer vent. The best way to ensure dryer safety is to clean the lint screen after every use and to have your vent and duct cleaned regularly. In fact, studies prove that effective cleaning maintenance of dryer vents and lint screens can reduce the chances of fire by as much as 90%. Not only does vent cleaning help prevent house fires, it also will make sure your clothes are dry and smell nice after each use.

Lint builds up in your dryer vent each time you run your dryer. Cleaning the lint screen will help you keep the dryer running and working well, but a little lint will still remain within the vent itself. It’s very important to keep up with dryer vent cleaning, as the accumulated lint is a fire hazard that endangers your house and everyone in it. Call Chimney Care Company to schedule an inspection and cleaning of your dryer vents today!

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Chimney Care Company | 413 Wards Corner Road, Loveland, Ohio 45140