Dryer vents are among the most neglected fixtures in most American homes. Most homeowners believe that removing the lint screen after every load is enough. While cleaning the lint screen is essential, it’s usually not enough to clean the dryer vent. So, you have to clean your dryer vent routinely to avoid serious problems later. This article tells why you should clean your dryer vent after every winter.
Why You Should Clean Your Dryer Vent After Winter
Prevent Fire Accidents and Poisoning
Studies have shown that dryers cause more than 15,000 house fires every year in the United States. Clogged dryer vents cause over 70 percent of these fires. Therefore, ignoring a clogged dryer vent is risky because lint is highly flammable, and a tiny dryer spark can easily ignite a fire.
Also, a clogged dryer vent can prevent poisonous gases like carbon monoxide from flowing out of the house. Clogged dryers usually release carbon monoxide, which is odorless and tasteless. And instead of allowing the gas to leave the house, a clogged vent will block it, putting you and your family at the risk of gas poisoning.
Save Money
A clogged dryer vent causes the unit to use 30 percent more energy than normal, which will increase your monthly utility costs. So, cleaning your dryer vent routinely will keep the dryer running smoothly and efficiently, saving you a lot of money.
Preventing Rodents and Other Unwanted Guests
If you allow lint to accumulate in your dryer’s vent, it will prevent the duct hood from closing correctly. Unfortunately, leaving your duct hood open will allow birds and rodents to access your house, and other small animals will find a perfect hiding spot in the winter.
How to Clean Your Dryer Vent
If you do not have the budget to hire a dryer technician to clean your vent, you should learn how to do it yourself. Here are the essential steps you need to take when cleaning your dryer vent:
- Unplug your dryer from the wall outlet before you start cleaning the vent. Pull the unit away from the exhaust duct, find the dryer vent cap, and remove it.
- Push a snake to brush into the duct and twist it to clear out debris and blockages.
- A snake brush goes along the corners and turns in the duct to methodically brush out the buildup.
- Use a vacuum to gather the remaining debris from each end of the duct.
- Attach the vent cap back on and the dryer back to the exhaust duct. Plug the dryer into the wall outlet and do a test run.
Talk to Dryer Vent Wizard today for more details about cleaning dryer vents.