3 Signs That You Should Clean Your Dryer Vent

Can you imagine waking up to your house burning? Imagine then that you find out it was caused by something as common and inoffensive as your dryer. It’s a situation that could easily be avoided, but unfortunately affects many people. The cause is lint and other debris catching up and building in the filter, until it eventually diminishes the airflow so much that your dryer overheats with exhaust gases and starts a fire. This can easily be avoided by thoroughly cleaning and inspecting your dryer vent yearly, especially if you know that the dryer vent duct was not installed by a professional. Reduce the risk of a home fire, and save some money by improving the efficiency and lifespan of your machine! Here are the signs you should look for to figure out when it’s time to clean your dryer lint trap.

Your Dryer is Becoming Less Efficient!

You may notice over time that it takes longer for your clothes to dry properly. Although some loss in efficiency is to be expected as your appliance gets older, it could also be that the airflow is restricted. When your dryer vent is clogged, it can double or even triple the drying time. You’ll notice that your clothes are still not dry at the end of a cycle. This happens because a dryer’s job is to take the moisture out of your clothing by siphoning away hot moist air. However, when the vent is clogged with lint, the air gets trapped in the dryer, and your clothes remain humid. It also makes the machine work double time, significantly reducing its lifespan.

The Clothes and Machine are Getting Very Hot!

If you notice that your clothes are getting really hot at the end of a cycle, or the dryer becomes too hot to touch, it’s time to inspect your dryer. It means that the vent is not exhausting properly. A machine that’s working harder wastes more energy, and risks breaking down sooner than it normally would. Another more obvious indication that the vent is clogged is when you notice a burning smell. If you do, discontinue use of your dryer immediately and have a professional inspect it as soon as possible. A quick call to Fresh Air Furnace Services will save you from a lot of grief before your dryer causes a fire. Lint is extremely flammable, and when it accumulates in the lint trap, it can become a serious fire hazard. Lint build-up will clog the airflow, and if it overheats it can catch on fire, resulting in a burning smell. You need to clean your lint trap as regularly as you can.

It’s Been More Than a Year Since Your Last Cleaning!

Even without any other sign, something you can be sure of is that you need to inspect and clean your dryer vent at least once a year. This is a good habit which will reduce the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Hiring a professional to do it is ideal, and the experts at Fresh Air Furnace Services are here to help you. While some people choose to do it themselves, you won’t always have the necessary equipment for the make and model of your dryer. Save yourself the trouble of your machine breaking down or worse starting a fire, and have it cleaned yearly.

Be on the lookout for these three signs that could save you a lot of trouble, as well as some money. If it’s been more than a year since you last had your dryer vent inspected and cleaned, then call Fresh Air Furnace Services today at 403-452-9528!