5 Important Reasons You Need Dryer Vent Cleaning

We all know the importance of cleaning out our lint trap in our dryer, its basically second nature to most. Most of do this as frequent as after each load, and that’s a good/safe practice! It truly helps our home’s dryer work more efficiently and we know it’s a safety hazard if we don’t. Healthy Home wants to talk about dryer vent cleaning, that’s the often forgotten hidden necessity of getting our dryer vents cleaned. Yes, we mean the dryer vents and tubes themselves that you can’t easily reach.Don’t know what the dryer vent is? This is the ugly often silver tube that runs from behind your dryer to the outside of your home. It helps remove hot air and moisture from inside your home. If this vent gets clogged it can lead to many complications mentioned here.

1. Safety (The most important reason)

The number one reason on our list is safety! Dryers run hot and lint is highly flammable, which
makes for a dangerous situation. According to the United States Fire Administration, our home clothes dryers are responsible for more than 15,000 structure fires each year and 80% of those are due to clogged dryer vents. This is a BIG preventable problem folks.

There is also the possibility of fumes backing up into your home through clogged vents. The
moisture, gasses and even carbon monoxide that should be released outside could potentially
back up into your home causing an poor air issue for you and your family! Remember mold
needs what to grow… warmth and moisture. We need to make sure the air can escape like it’s
designed to.

2. Low-Efficiency (The most well-known reason)

We all want our appliances to work as efficiently as possible right? A clogged dryer vent could
mean your clothes will need to have longer dryer run times sometimes leaving you with multiple cycles before drying correctly or will need to run longer. This is because the proper amount of hot air is not reaching your dryer.

Multiple cycles and extended drying times mean additional energy spent and could lead to an increase in your electrical bill.

3. A Clean Dryer Vent Means a Longer Life for Your Dryer

We already pointed out that a clogged vent means a less efficient drying cycle. If your dryer is running 2x, 3x, or even 4x longer than normal or more than one cycle per load, your quickly decreasing the life of your dryer. It’s essentially working over-time! On top of that the moisture
levels where the dryer is likely to be higher with a clogged vent hurting the electronic
components of the machine. We all know what happens if we drop our cell phone in the water… this is similar.

A dryer that is overworked will add considerable wear and tear to your machine. This could lead to malfunctions and needed repairs. Allowing your dryer to run this way can also cause a complete breakdown of your machine over time.

4. Mold

The purpose of the dryer vent is to release moisture and hot air outside. The moisture can
sometimes create wet spots inside the tube. Built-up lint can get caught in these wet spots and create mold.

This wet lint can also stick to the inside of the vent’s tube making dryer vent cleaning more difficult and sometimes more expensive in repairs.

5. Less Maintenance

Like any other appliance or machine, your dryer will last longer and work better if it’s properly cared for. Cleaning the vent regularly will help ensure that your clothes are being dried in a timely manner and you aren’t wasting unnecessary energy. Extended drying times can even cause strain on your fabrics.A dryer that continues to run with a clogged vent can cause internal problems that require repairs. This means more money for you. Your dryer vent should be thoroughly cleaned out once a year and if you have a large family or maybe a business it’s recommended twice a year for the influx of loads you are doing. If you’re unsure of how to clean your vent or just want it done right by a professional, contact Healthy Home today!

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