The Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning
If you don’t clean your dryer vent, you could be at risk for a house fire. Lint-filled dryer vents cause thousands of house fires each year, resulting in property damage, injuries and even death. When the dryer’s venting system is plugged or even partially plugged, the lint will build up inside the body of the dryer. This causes the dryer to run hotter than usual. This excessive heat, coupled with the presence of a fuel (the lint), will cause an out of control fire. These fires are absolutely preventable if you clean your dryer vent.
Warning Signs
Here are a few warning signs that your dryer vent may be in need of cleaning:
- Clothes are taking a long time to dry (more than one cycle).
- The dryer is getting unusually hot while running.
- There is excessive humidity around the dryer in your laundry area.
Lint Trap Misconceptions
Many people think that the lint trap takes care of the lint, but that isn’t accurate. It’s unfortunate that people believe they are doing everything they can to maintain the dryer and prevent fires, but sometimes our best efforts are not enough. The lint trap cannot trap all of the lint and this lint is highly flammable. Long dryer vents exacerbate the problem, providing more space for the lint to collect and making it more difficult to clean the system. Your dryer is not a sealed system, so you can never prevent lint from getting into your dryer vent or into the body of your dryer.
At Mr. Smokestack Chimney Service, we have the equipment and training required to expertly clean your dryer vent. A professional dryer vent cleaning will lower your risk of a dangerous dryer fire and lower your energy cost. A clean dryer ventilation system will reduce the wear and tear on your dryer and decrease the amount of time you need to spend doing laundry.
If the top of your chimney is not properly covered and protected, you may need to call on the professionals at Mr. Smokestack Chimney Service to remove animals or nests from your chimney. Aren’t you glad Mr. Smokestack Chimney Service offers such complete chimney and vent services?