Why is cleaning dryer vents a good idea?

We all often rely on our trusty old dryers to keep our clothes dry and warm> Yet it might be disheartening (and even frightening) to find out that dryers are a leading cause of house fires.

That’s an unpleasant statistic, but it shouldn’t deter you from buying a dryer. It only serves to show how important it is to keep a close eye on our home appliances and pay attention to the signs that point that something might be wrong. Fires are not the only thing that dryers can cause. So, let’s take a closer look at the risks of poorly maintained dryers and dryer vents, and what you can do to avoid them.

The Risks of Poorly Maintained Dryer Vents

As mentioned, fire is the most dangerous risk of poorly maintained dryer vents. A mind-blowing 34% of fires caused by dryers are due to the failure to clean them. Lint is a huge hazard. While most people tend to quickly clean the inside of the dryer fairly regularly, lint often builds up inside the vents. Once it gets stuck, lint dries up and builds up static electricity – a deadly combination.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is another major risk, especially so with gas dryers. While lint is usually the chief culprit, it’s not the only one. Anything that blocks the dryer vent can lead to the buildup of carbon monoxide inside the home. Small animals like the warmth and shelter provided by the vents, and it’s not uncommon for them to build nests in there. Any debris that enters the vents can cause problems as well.

The next two problems might not be as serious but are a pain nonetheless. Excessive wear and tear and higher utility bills are always connected with poorly maintained dryer vents. Blocked vents mean that moisture cannot escape from the dryer, so it simply stays put. This means that the clothes need to pass through several cycles to completely dry out.

Putting every pile of laundry through 2 or 3 drying cycles puts a great strain on the device, and on your pocket as well, since this automatically increases your utility bills.

Signs That It’s Time to Clean the Dryer Vents

There are a few telltale signs that you should keep a closer eye on your dryer and invest in cleaning its vents, and those include:

Longer drying time
Suspiciously hot surface of the dryer and clothes
There’s a burning smell
Difficulty opening the vent hood flap
It’s been over a year since the last inspection

There are certain things you can do to prevent dryer fires and other problems, those usually include simple cleaning and a quick inspection after every cycle. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes to check the flex hose and quickly clean the lint screen, vent line, and the lint on the inside of the dryer.

However, cleaning the dryer vents is better carried out with professional assistance. DIY efforts can cause other problems and make the dryer a bigger hazard. An annual inspection and cleaning is required to keep your dryer safe and long-lasting.

British Columbia

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Ontario

Modern PURAIR^® News