Spring Cleaning? Don’t Forget to Include the Dryer Vent

The dryer vent. Who is thinking about cleaning the dryer vent when we clean them every time we do laundry, right? Let me share with you what I discovered this weekend. I spent some time outside this weekend trying to do two things at one time. 1. Enjoy some of the sunshine 2. Spring Clean.

Spring Cleaning

As Spring cleaning is well underway, it seems like the leaves never went away from the Fall. In every corner of the home, there’s a pile of leaves wet and stuck to the ground. However, on the back side of the home, the leaves made its way from one side to the other. I knew this was going to take a while.

As I reached the half way mark, I remembered that a family member was inside washing a load of laundry. I could hear the low sound of the dryer running. But wait…the flap is barely moving.

Dryer Vent Cleaning #1 Benefit

Let’s first discuss the #1 benefit of a dryer vent sweep. You get done with your laundry faster and your dryer unit lasts longer. If the dryer vent isn’t cleaned once per year, the hot moist air remains in the dryer and venting system. It takes longer for the dryer to complete its job. And…not very good for the life of your dryer unit either. Infrequent dryer vent service shortens the life of your dryer unit as it needs to work harder and longer to dry your clothes.  The moist air can also get trapped in your clothes and leave a musty smell. All that work, and you’re right back where you started.

Dryer Vent #1 Problem to Solve

The issue of dryer vents is a real one. According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 13,000 home dryer fires are reported each year. 34% of those fires are caused by lint. Now that’s not to say that you don’t clean your dryer vent. You do. But lint has a mind of its own. Some light and fluffy lint gets past the lint trap and accumulates in the duct that leads to the outside.

More Problems with Dryer Vents

Because we want you to be fully armed with information, here are some additional problematic signs that can cause a dryer vent fire.

• Clothes are too hot to touch. Remember, there’s a cool down before you take the clothes out. When that’s still too hot, that’s a sign the dryer vent is clogged.
• The room with the washer and dryer, it’s also too hot.
• The dryer vent flap or slats outside isn’t working properly. If you also notice in the picture, lint and debris begin to make its way out of the slats or flap. That’s pretty full.
•  Smell the dryer sheet. If you notice it doesn’t smell like the dryer sheet, there’s a clog.

What Can a Homeowner Do?

To begin, to check your dryer vent outside. Is it working properly? Is there anything overflowing outside? Next, throw in a load of laundry. Does it smell musty? A little or a lot? Is the dryer overly hot in the cool down?  Is it running longer than it used to?

If you get a slight yes to a full blown yes, then it’s time to get it cleaned by Superior Chimney. Give us a call at 877-244-6349 to schedule up your spring dryer vent cleaning. Smell like fresh spring!

This post first appeared on https://www.superiorchimney.net