Categories Dryer Vent Cleaning

What is Lint?

what is lint
what is lint

Lint

noun

  1. Clingy strands of fiber and fluff; fuzz.
  2. Downy material obtained by scraping linen cloth and used for dressing wounds.
  3. The mass of soft fibers surrounding the seeds of unginned cotton.
  4. Short, fine fibers that separate from the surface of cloth or yarn.

What is Lint in Terms of the Clothes Dryer

Lint is tiny fiber particles that separate from clothes, blankets etc as they tumble about in your dryer.  Hot air is blown through the dryers drum passing through the clothes picking up these tiny particles as it flows through, this air then passes through the lint trap and dryer exhaust, through the transition hose and our through the dryer vent to the outside world. The lint trap, as good as it is cannot catch all lint so it tries to make it’s way through the dryer vent to the hood on the outside.

 

What is Lint Doing Inside my Dryer?

Lint builds up as some lint passes through the lint trap, this then makes it’s journey to where the dryer vent terminates (outside). However there are many reasons why lint builds up we detail them below.

  • If the flaps (louvres) on the dryer vent hood are not opening & closing freely the air will not leave your dryer as efficiently as it should so lint starts to build up all through the dryer vent/duct.
  • Too many 90 degree elbows – code says a dryer vent should not be longer than 25 feet,  each 90 degree bend reduces this length by 5 feet meaning the dryer may struggle to push the lint out over that distance
  • Condensation build up can cause lint to stick to the  transition hose, the dryer vent and on the hood

This is why the dryer manufacturers say you should have the dryer exhaust system and cabinet cleaned out regularly by a professional dryer technician or dryer vent cleaning company

Author VentExpert
Categories Dryer Vent Cleaning

Lint Clogged Clothes Dryer With Signs of a Fire

This is a particularly bad dryer we recently came across, which due to the dryer vent being clogged lead to the whole dryer struggling and also signs of a dryer fire having taken place. This really was one lucky customer, they narrowly avoided becoming a dryer fire statistic. The customer chose to have the dryer cleaned inside the cabinet when they realized how serious the situation was.

Here is the Clothes Dryer

As you can see a normal looking clothes dryer … from the outside lets see whats inside

dryer vent cleaning in Burlington
This looks like a normal dryer wait until we open it up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clogged Dryer Exhaust

Behind the dryer is the dryer exhaust that the transition hose connects to. Look at how much lint is built up in there.

back of clogged dryer
back of clogged dryer this is inside the dryer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lint Builds Up Under Lint Trap

Lint build up below the lint trap and under the lint trap housing this is tricky to remove but really does need to be removed.

excessive lint in clothes dryer
Look all this lint below the lint trap!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Blower Housing Caked With Lint Build Up

It is easy to see that lint is just going to stick to the existing build up here, this is why it makes sense to carry out dryer vent cleaning on a regular basis. We recommend once a year if there are 4 or more living in the home, single or just a couple then once every 2 years will be enough.

dryer vent cleaning Burlington
dryer cleaning to reduce the risk of fire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lint Build Up Inside a Dryer Cabinet

If lint cannot exhaust properly then it will start to build up inside the dryer over time which is not good news! With clean dryer vents the lint exits the dryer preventing build up like this.

dryer cleaning Burlington Ontario
Dryer cabinet with lint build up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signs of a Dryer Fire

The owner of this dryer said that it was taking sometimes 3 cycles to dry a load of clothes. This was not only costing a lot in electricity costs and also putting more strain on the dryer and the clothes too! Below you will see signs of where lint has already burned, the owners were lucky that they called us when they did. Houses in the area of Burlington are between 4 – 15 years old, the house this dryer is in is 12 years old.

The dark brown bits are burnt lint slowly smouldering away.

dryer heating element with burnt lint
dryer heating element with burnt lint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burnt lint removed from clothes dryer just look at how much there is! Have your dryer vent cleaned regularly to prevent this level of lint build up.

burnt lint in the dryer
burnt lint in the dryer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dryer Cleaned Out Lint Free!

Here you see a nice clean cabinet, we greased the mail bearing and checked the drive belt and tension rollers, then went on to clean out the dryer vent and change the transition tube from a vinyl flex hose to a semi rigid one the manufacturers recommend.

dryer cabinet cleaning prevent dryer fires
dryer cabinet cleaning helping prevent dryer fires

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning

If you live in Burlington, Ontario and surrounding areas and are having problems with your clothes taking a long time to dry. Is the top of your clothes dryer feeling really hot to touch? Or are you noticing excessive lint on your dry clothes? These are all signs that your dryer vent is clogged with lint and needs cleaning. Contact us today to schedule dryer vent cleaning, the service will pay for itself in time savings, reducing your utility costs and reducing your risk of fire.

 

 

Author VentExpert
Categories Dryer Vent Cleaning

Birds Nest Removal From Dryer Vent

bird nest removal from dryer ventIs your dryer taking a long time to dry each load of clothes? One thing you might want to check is that no birds or mice have taken up residence in your dryer vent! You see birds like to be nice and warm and your dryer vent is just that, it also comes with a nice supply of lint to make a dream nest. How to check simply locate your dryer vent on the outside of your home. If you are not sure which vent is the dryer try running your dryer for a few minutes check your vents, feeling for warm air. Once you find the vent check inside for unwanted guests. If it is a plastic exhaust vent that is missing any louvers/flaps then there is a strong possibility that something enjoying free board inside your vent.

Bird Nest Removal From Dryer Vent

A nest in your dryer vent can cause your dryer to work extra hard, it will cause lint to build up in the vent and deep inside your dryer, and your clothes will take longer to dry. Dryer vent cleaner of Burlington can come and remove the nest and replace your old vent with a nice new one. We love all animals but they have their place and we have ours, if we can relocate the nest we will. Call us today or contact us today to schedule a visit to remove your birds nest or mice, we would also recommend dryer vent cleaning your whole dryer vent system and the dryer lint area too!

Author VentExpert
Categories Dryer Vent Cleaning

How Dryer Vent Cleaning Can Prevent a Devastating Fire

dryer vent cleaning prevents dryer firesDo you realize that your home may need its dryer vent cleaning? In Canada, dryer vents are responsible for about 10 dryer fires every day, up to 5 deaths annually, and about 10 million dollars of property damage. 80% of Canadian homes have clothes dryers, and yet the majority of home owners are unaware of the severe dangers that dryers pose.

Proper Dryer Vent Cleaning Can Reduce Your Risk of a Fire

Dryer fires are caused by a lack of dryer vent cleaning, when a build-up of lint results in incredible heat being generated. It’s not only the lint that builds up in the removable dryer lint filter, but the unseen lint that builds up in the dryer’s exhaust, and around the dryers heater element. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission believes that everyone who owns a clothes dryer needs to understand the danger and make sure they have proper dryer vent cleaning.

Warning Signs That You Need Your Dryer Vent Cleaning

Dryer fires are caused by a combination of heat and blockage of proper venting. When there’s a build-up of lint in the dryer’s exhaust pipe, there is combustible material present to start a serious fire. Warning signs include needing higher temperatures and multiple dryer cycles to dry clothes. The lint screen should always be cleaned before and after every load of clothes. Additionally, the dryer vent and exhaust duct needs to be cleaned periodically. Plastic or foil accordion type ducting should be replaced with rigid or corrugated metal ducting. The area behind the dryer also needs to be cleaned where lint and debris can built up. But beyond keeping a close eye on lint buildup, the best way to prevent a dryer fire is have professional dryer vent cleaning done periodically.

Dryer Vent Cleaning in Ontario

If you are in the Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton, Waterdown, Carlisle, Kilbride, Milton or Aldershot area of Ontario we can help clean your dryer vent. Call Dryer Vent Cleaner today on 905 966 0838

Author VentExpert
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