ULTIMATE BEGINNERS GUIDE TO DRYER VENT CLEANING
American homes are equipped with clothes washers and dryers, and the convenience they offer is undoubtedly appealing. However, poor dryer maintenance and failure to keep the vent free of lint pose significant risks. There is no doubt that most homeowners know how to clean their dryer’s lint trap, but do you know how to clean the vent? Cleaning a dryer vent is essential to keep your dryer in good working order and keep your family safe. So, let’s take a look at the process of dryer vent cleaning in Hoboken.
Is Dryer Vent Cleaning Necessary?
It is estimated that almost 3,000 dryer fires occur every year, causing considerable economic damage and deaths. More than a third of dryer fires could be prevented by simply cleaning dirty dryer vents.
If you don’t maintain your dryer vents properly, they can become clogged with lint, creating a fire hazard. In any case, lint in a dirty vent can become fuel for combustion, allowing the fire to spread even if the fire is unrelated to the dryer.
Consequently, dryer vent cleaning is necessary if you want to avoid causing a fire in your home and injuring or killing a family member. If you are not sure whether your dryer vent needs cleaning, search for these signs.
Signs Dryer Vent Needs Cleaning:
It’s not enough to empty your dryer’s lint completely to keep your home energy efficient and safe. Sometimes, you have to clean beyond the removable trap. You may notice several signs that your vents have been clogged with lint, which can lead to a house fire or higher utility bills than usual. Look out for:
Drying clothes takes longer than usual
What is the average drying time for your clothes? If you have noticed a significant slowdown, or if your clothes are still damp after 45 minutes for a typical load, you might want to hire a professional. Lint buildup in your vents is often the first sign. It’s inconvenient if something needs to be dried quickly, and it can significantly increase your utility bills. Consider scheduling your annual vent cleaning when your clothes are damp and hot after the drying cycle.
The clothing feels unusually hot
Ouch! Your clothes should not be overheating in your dryer. The most common cause for overheating is a restricted air flow in the dryer. You may need to clean your dryer lint trap, but if the dryer is still too hot, you may have lint in the ducts. You can verify this problem by going outside and observing how much air is coming out of the vents while the dryer is running.
As the dryer runs, the room gets warmer
In a similar manner to hot clothes, a hot laundry room when the dryer is running may indicate that there is a buildup of lint in your system which is responsible for the overheating of the dryer.
You’ve noticed burning smells
It’s okay to have dirty socks in the laundry room, but burning odors are indicative of lint stuck in your dryer vent. Dirty dryer vents greatly increase your fire risk, since lint is flammable, and dryers are hot.
The lint flap isn’t opening
In order to ensure adequate air flow, you need to pay attention to the lint flap outside your dryer. If it doesn’t open, this means you have restricted air flow, and lint sticking in the vent is usually the primary culprit. If you observe lint coming outside this vent, you need to clean it immediately.
The dryer alerts you there’s a problem
You might see a warning light or an error code on some dryers that indicate there’s something wrong. Don’t ignore these warnings.
The dryer stops working
There are times when dryers will automatically turn off if too much heat is detected. This is a safety feature built into the machine. If this happens, check to see if cleaning the vent will solve the issue before you buy another dryer.
It’s been more than a year since cleaning the vent.
You can clean your lint filter diligently, but eventually it will find its way into the vent. Hire a professional to clean your dryer vent annually at a minimum. Choose the right time of the year to accomplish this chore. Spring is a good time for dryer vent cleaning in Hoboken.
Don’t Let Lint Build up Again
The key to keeping your dryer running smoothly is regular maintenance. Routinely performing a few simple tasks can keep your dryer vent clean and prevent fires.
- Maintain a clean environment around your appliance by sweeping, dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning regularly. Make sure dust and debris are never accumulated around the dryer.
- Make sure you clean the lint trap before every cycle when you use the dryer. By doing so, you will improve the performance of your dryer, as lint build-up will not interfere with airflow. Besides improving performance, it also keeps lint out of your dryer vent.
- You should regularly clean your lint trap or screen as well as around the housing of it, as this area is prone to accumulating lint and dirt. By doing this you will eliminate the likelihood that lint will create clogs and fires around your vent.
Dryer Vent Cleaning Hoboken
Regardless of how the dryer vent is cleaned, the main thing to do is apply a lot of pressure so that all types of dust, dirt, debris, and lint come loose. As a result, the dryer vent should be cleared of all items that are not needed in order to perform at its full potential. You can count on us and be sure your dryer vents will remain in good shape.
Best Cleaning 4U performs dryer vent cleaning with great care and precision, and we guarantee excellent results. You can count on us for the best dryer vent cleaning in Hoboken. Call us today at (973) 922-0195 to get a quote. We serve Philadelphia and New Jersey.
