The Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning and Inspection

For several families, the clothes dryer is an indispensable convenience and a necessity. Since they mostly focus on the functionality of the appliance, homeowners tend to forget about routine maintenance.

Without proper maintenance, a clothes dryer can start a home fire. Annual dryer vent maintenance not only helps prevent a house fire, but it can also significantly increase the efficiency of your dryer, saving you money.

Dryer vent fires are caused when lint builds up over time in the dryer vent, or animals build their nest in the vent. Furthermore, newly built homes tend to have dryers installed in the bathrooms, kitchens, or hall closets away from the outside wall. These locations mean that dryers are vented in longer distances with sharp turns and bend to accommodate the home’s structure.

Our professionals from American Chimney Cleaning will clean out your dryer vent and make sure it is appropriately venting to an outside wall. When the dryer vent is installed correctly, it can prevent the animals in your neighborhood from setting up shop in your vent. 

The Importance of Dryer Vent Repairs

Several homes, even newly built ones, have flexible plastic ducts in them to vent the dryers to an outside wall. All manufacturers include in their manuals not to use plastic flexible dryer ducts because the plastic can add fuel to a dryer vent fire and make the fire spread faster.

A lot of homes have flexible foil vents, which are thought to be better than plastic. However, these foil vents can sag and allow lint to build up and catch on fire if it comes in contact with a sufficient amount of heat. If a fire starts beneath the dryer when the motor overheats, the drafts from the dryer can pull that fire up into the duct and start a house fire.

Due to the volume of your daily activities in your home, the components of your dryer vent system may need to be repaired. That’s why you need to have a professional dryer vent technician to ensure its safe and efficient operation.

Leaks, incorrect joint connections, or improper vent materials can lead to complex problems, such as dryer fire, carbon monoxide buildup, mold growth, and energy loss. You may start noticing some of these warning signs while using your dryer. Many of these signs can indicate a clogged dryer vent, but in some cases, they can be signs of damage in the dryer vent system.

Our experienced technicians can provide a full diagnosis inspection to locate the source of the problem and correct any issues that can make your dryer unsafe or inefficient to operate. American Chimney Cleaning offers a wide range of dryer vent repairs to suit your needs. 

What Causes a Clogged Dryer Vent?

When sufficient lint accumulates in the system, dryer vents clog in the system to cause a blockage. Dryer vent ducts can clog in various ways.

For instance, a long dryer vent run will clog faster because the lint has too far to go. First, it clogs toward the end of the run, where the airflow is slower. Secondly, when there are turns or curves in the vent, lint will build up there.

When the transition hose is crushed from the back of the dryer connecting the ductwork, you get less airflow, clog your vent. Located outside your home is a termination vent. Those can get lint stuck on them, which also creates a clogged dryer vent duct. 

Why Should Dryer Vents Be Cleaned?

Professional dryer duct cleaning from American Cleaning Chimney can keep your dryer at maximum efficiency, saving money on energy bills. A clean dryer vent also makes your home safer by helping prevent dryer fires.

Below are the top reasons why your dryer vents need to be cleaned.

• A clogged dryer vent doesn’t allow moisture to vent to the outdoors as freely as possible. Thus, the dryer has to run longer to dry each load. That extra cycle time uses more energy and increases wear on your dryer.
• Accumulated lint in dryers contributes to a third of the 2,900 dryer fires reported each year. Hot air builds up in the vent when lint blocks airflow. In some cases, the air is hot enough to ignite the lint. 

Why Choose American Chimney Cleaning for Your Dryer Vent Needs?

American Chimney Cleaning specializes in dryer vent cleaning, repairs, and inspection. We do not clean any other ducts, just the dryer exhaust system. Our professionals ensure your dryer exhaust system is up to code and your dryer is running efficiently and as safe as it can be.

We only invest in the best equipment to ensure the entire dryer vent is clean from the back of the dryer through the walls to where it terminates outside. When we arrive at your home to clean your dryer vent, we will show you exactly what we are doing, explain every process and educate you on how you can maintain the essential maintenance to keep your dryer running efficiently.