What is dryer vent cleaning?

Dryer vent cleaning improves the safety and efficiency of your dryer installation. As dryer vents become filled with lint and other debris, drying time increases and can cause the dryer itself to overheat. This increases energy consumption since the dryer has to run longer to dry your clothes and can also cause fires in the dryer or the dryer duct. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports dryer related home fires are on the increase. CPSC figures show that in 1997 there were 16,800 dryer fires which caused 30 deaths, 430 injuries and 97.3 million dollars in property damage.

Why should I have dryer vent cleaning service?

• Dryer vents clogged with lint can cost $18-24 more per month in additional electricity
• There are 15,500 fires every year caused by dryer vents
• Dryer manufacturers recommend you clean your dryer vent every year to reduce wear and tear

Can dryer vent cleaning help reduce the risk of fires in my home?

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 15,000 homes fires each year are caused by dryer vents with a build up of lint and debris. When these build ups occur, the dryer can overheat, which can result in fires in the dryer or dryer duct. 

Can dryer vent cleaning help reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Another problem created by blocked dryer vents serving gas dryers is the risk of carbon monoxide leaking into your home. This can happen because the lint and flue gases use the same method to leave the house and get blocked by a clogged dryer vent. These colorless and odorless carbon monoxide fumes can be fatal.

Can dryer vent cleaning help remove these unwanted guests?

Animal, bird and insect nesting is another frequent cause of dryer vent blockage. Besides the annoying chirping or pitter patter of mice, having unwanted tenants in your dryer vent are unsanitary and can lead to other problems such as fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and higher energy costs.

Can dryer vent cleaning help with my appliance's efficiency?

A clean exhaust duct prevents heat, moisture and, in the case of gas clothes dryers, carbon monoxide from being trapped in your home. When this type of spillage occurs, energy, natural resources and time are all wasted because your appliance works too hard and runs longer than necessary.

Does dryer vent cleaning help reduce wear and tear on my dryer?

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 cut in half. When the dryer runs at higher than designed temperatures, the life of your clothes dryer decreases even more. This can lead to the heating element burning out or a fire could ignite as a result of overworked safety controls.

How often do I need to have dryer vent cleaning service?

The more a dryer vent blows, the less lint builds up in it. Short vents blow better than long ones. Full size dryers blow better than smaller stack dryers or older dryers. Vents with a lot of turns and elbows blow worse and build up more lint. Very short vents attached to full size dryers may never need cleaning! Most vents, however, need cleaning every two to three years, depending on the factors above. How often do your vents need cleaning?

Can a dirty dry vent cause home fires?

A plugged vent will certainly cause a dryer to run hotter and increase the chance that something could catch fire. A dirty vent, however, is only one link in a chain of events that must occur for a fire to start. Other events may include: failure of thermostat and limit switches in the dryer, lint inside the dryer, a missing or damaged lint screen, and a crushed hose behind the dryer.

Should I have my dryer vents cleaned annually?

Annual dryer exhaust vent inspections (also known as dryer exhaust duct inspections) are more necessary than ever before due to the complex construction of homes built today. Newer homes tend to have dryers located away from an outside wall in bathrooms, kitchens and in hall closets which is convenient, but potentially dangerous from a safety standpoint. These new locations mean that dryers tend to be vented longer distances and vents are generally installed with more bends to accommodate the extended path they must take through the home. As a result, dryer ducts are harder to access and this additional length creates more places where lint can collect and animals and birds can hide.

Are there any industry organization that provide standards and certifications for dryer vent cleaning?

The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians® (C-DET) perform dryer vent inspections on an annual basis to ensure efficient operation of your clothes dryer system. Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians have passed an extensive exam on the proper inspection and maintenance of dryer vents, including applicable codes and standards relating to these systems.