There are several things you can do to properly maintain your clothes dryer. Obviously, keeping the lint screen clean is one of them. The lint screen should be cleaned after every load of laundry. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets can cause a residue to build up over time; the lint screen should be cleaned with hot, soapy water every few months to prevent air-flow blockage.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Lint build-up in the dryer duct restricts air-flow; this is the most common problem found when a clothes dryer isn't functioning properly. Not only is this a fire hazard; it also causes your dryer to work harder and use more energy. A clogged dryer vent can increase your utility bills by nearly $300 per year.
Many dryers have longer ducts with places that are difficult for the average homeowner to get to. A professional has the tools required to do the job efficiently.
Inside the Dryer
Lint also builds up inside the dryer, in the slot for the removable lint filter, the vents on the back panel, around the motor, drums, pulleys and other essential parts of your dryer. A dryer vent cleaning professional has the knowledge and tools to get to all the areas where lint gets trapped.
It is important that your dryer exhaust system is properly installed and that the right materials are used. Older systems use vinyl, plastic or flexible foil for the exhaust duct; studies have proven this to be unsafe. A professional inspection is recommended to be sure your system is safe.
Manufacturers suggest having a professional provide dryer vent cleaning and maintenance at least once a year to be sure your dryer is venting properly and the system is up to current safety standards.
Dryer vent cleaning is the most important maintenance you can do for your dryer. Poor maintenance causes the dryer to overwork putting undue stress on the motor, bearings, belts and other parts of your dryer. Failure to properly maintain your dryer exhaust ducts will eventually result in a fire.
The ductwork is the piping that runs from the back of your dryer to whatever style of dryer vent you have outside your home. The whole job of the aluminum duct system is to remove the hot air from the dyer (along with any lint or dust it has removed from your clothes) and send it outside your house.
Heat Removal
Can you imagine how hard your air conditioning would have to work to counter the effect of all the hot air from your dryer coming into your home? Even a massive home air conditioning unit likely couldn't compete with all that heat. But thankfully, you have something that will keep some of that hot air from blowing all over your house – your dryer vent. The dryer vent takes the hot air from your dryer to the outside of your home through the vent system.
Lint Removal
The goal of the dryer vent system is to get lint and dust out of your home as well. While you may like to think that the lint trap on your dryer is a great piece of equipment that magically grabs every piece of lint that is coming out of your dryer, that is not the case. There is plenty of lint that gets past the lint trap and goes into the ductwork. The hot air being released from your dryer will often blow this lint out of the line instead of blowing it around your house.
What Kind of Dryer Vent Do You Have?
Now that you know what the dryer vent should do, you also need to know what kind you have. Many older homes were created using older, vinyl ducts. While this used to be the way it was made, years of experience have shown it is a dangerous choice. If your dryer were to throw a spark, it is very possible that the vinyl duct could ignite and be the cause of a dryer vent fire.
You need to make sure you have a dryer vent system made of aluminum. Aluminum will not ignite if there should be a few sparks. Find out what type of dryer vent you have in your home and if it is not aluminum, or if you are in doubt, call a professional for an inspection and evaluation of your dryer vent system.
This article was written by Steve Gors, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Murrieta. provides services to consumers and businesses in San Diego County, California, Encinitas, Escondido, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Oceanside, Rainbow, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Riverside County, Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Perris, Corona, Riverside, Moreno Valley, Hemet, Menifee, Canyon Lake, Nuevo, San Jacinto, Winchester, Rubidoux, Norco and neighboring communities.
Contact:
Dryer Vent Wizard of Murrieta Steve Gors 26460 Arboretum Way #1207 Murieta, CA 92563 866-498-7233 Email: Website:
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