Dryer Vent Cleaning

Do you have any of these Warning Signs?

•  Increased drying time.
• Excessive lint.
• Top of the dryer is very hot to the touch.
• Clothes are very hot after drying.
• Dryer keeps shutting off during the drying cycle.

Lint  and debris can build up in the clothes dryer vent blocking air flow and  creating potentially hazardous conditions including the possibility for  an exhaust fire or carbon monoxide intrusion (gas clothes dryers).   Along with the water vapor evaporated from the wet clothes, the exhaust  stream carries lint – highly flammable particles of clothing made of  cotton and polyester – through the ventilation duct. Lint can accumulate  in the exhaust duct, reducing the dryer’s ability to expel the heated  water vapor, which then accumulates as heat energy within the machine.  As the dryer overheats, mechanical failures (thermostat, limit switch,  damaged screen, or crushed hose) can trigger sparks which cause the lint  trapped in the dryer vent to burst into flames.
 

Dryer Energy Efficiency
A  restricted dyer vent reduces air flow and causes your dryer to run  hotter and longer, substantially impacting energy efficiency. Excess  heat created by poor air flow can ruin your clothes, add dollars to your  home’s energy bill and increase the wear and tear on your appliance. If  your dryer takes twice as long to dry clothes as it should, the number  of loads that it will dry in its lifetime is substantially reduced.   Having your dryer vent cleaned helps reduce energy consumption,  operating costs and the possibility of a fire.
Why Dryer Vent  Cleaning Is Important:  Lint, bacteria and pollutants can dirty your dryer  vents, causing the tube to clog up and keep these particles from exiting  the vent. Your indoor air quality can suffer because of the dirt in the  vents. You may need a professional cleaning company like ServiceMaster  Residential Care to perform a thorough cleaning if your dryer vents are  extra long or get especially dirty.

Did you know you can still  have a clogged dryer filter even if you clean your lint trap with each  load?  Experts suggest performing a simple test to find out if your dryer  filter is full of fabric softener and fine lint. Pouring water onto the  screen to see if it flows through or stays on top can give you the  answer. If the water stays on top, then you should wash the screen with  warm water and some dish soap. Using a brush will help loosen the debris  making your dryer much more efficient and healthy to use.

Inspect  and clean your drum to protect your clothes. When cleaning the filter and  the dryer vents, you will want to remove pollutants from the dryer drum  as well. You can do this by turning the dryer on low for about five to  ten minutes. Adding a couple of old towels will remove much of the  excess. For leftover dirt, you can use a rubber spatula to get rid of  the majority of the remaining pollutants. Any residue should clean up  with some laundry detergent and a clean rag in hot water. You can remove  suds with a rinse with a clean rag and warm water. Dry the drum with a  towel to ensure no residue is left.

How do you tell if your dryer  vent is clogged? The Today Show says there are thousands of dryer vent  fires each year. One of the fastest ways to recognize the signs of a  clogged dryer vent is to see how long it takes the dryer to dry a normal  load of laundry completely. When you need to restart the dryer two and  three times to get one load dry, then it is time to do some checking.  Starting with the dryer vent is the best place to look for dirt and  buildup.

Typical signs of a clogged vent

• Clothes take more than one cycle to dry
• You smell something burning when you use your dryer
• Lint or debris is hanging out of the dryer vent exhaust
• A hot surface on your dryer is another indicator of a clogged vent
• When your energy bills increase, it might be from a clogged dryer vent 

How  to clean blocked dryer vents. If you choose to do some of your dryer vent  cleaning yourself, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Inspect the end of the vent where it exhausts to the outdoors for animal nests and debris
• Look for signs of animals like feces, feathers, claw marks, and holes and repair any damage especially if the vent shows damage
• Clean the dryer vent with a flexible brush, an air compressor, or a long vacuum attachment with a brush on the end
• Make sure whichever method you use cleans the vent from front to back
• You can remove the vent hose and work from both ends
• Remember to clean the vent while outside to prevent lint from affecting indoor air quality

If  you cannot reach some or all of the vent, then it’s a good idea to call  a cleaning company like ServiceMaster to ensure that the job is done  right and that you can continue to enjoy safe dryer operation.

How  often should vents be cleaned? A good rule of thumb is to clean your  entire dryer system, including the vent, at least once a year. You will  want to pull the dryer out from the wall and vacuum behind it and around  the vent, because lint can collect in this area -- causing a fire  hazard by reducing the airflow. Be sure to get under the dryer too.
 

If  you are worried that this job is too big to handle on your own, you  don’t have enough time to do it properly, or you just want to be certain  of a good job, give us a call! 

 Call 901-754-6648 to schedule your appointment today!

Dryer Tips
 

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission* recommends that you:

• Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes.
• Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically.
• Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up.
• Keep the area around the dryer free of clutter
• Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct.
• Take  special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile  chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oil, cleaning agents or finishing  oils and stains.
• The dryer should be vented to the outside of the home, and not under a porch or deck, or a window well.
• Avoid installing a screen at the end of the dryer vent exhaust.
• Having a safety device that tells you when your dryer vent is getting clogged is highly recommended.