Far too many people fail to have their dryer vent cleaned at least annually because they don’t understand the dangers associated with not doing so. This is to their and their family’s detriment. Failing to have one’s dryer vents cleaned puts everyone in the house in danger. This is because clogged or blocked vents can cause fires. In fact, each year, more than 15,000 house fires are attributed to this very cause. These are 15,600 fires that can be avoided. Calling and having a company unclog the vents is simple enough to do.
Save Money on Utility Costs With Dryer Vent Cleaning
In addition to avoiding fire and related dangers, a clean dryer vent can also help homeowners and apartment dwellers save money on electricity. People waste hundreds of dollars each year powering dryers that have clogged vents. This is because it requires additional energy to power a dryer that has dirty vents. Cleaning them out can help a person save a significant amount of money that could be better spent on something else or even pocketed.
When a dryer’s vents are clogged, there will a number of tell-tell signs. Understanding what these are and being able to accurately identify them so that something can be done, will help individuals avoid disaster and save money.
When a dryers vent needs to be cleaned, a person may notice the following, a buildup of lint on the back of the dryer, clothes that are covered in lint after being taken out of the dryer, a warm and/or humid laundry room or area and clothes that are damp and very warm to the touch. Another thing to look for is difficulty opening the damper on the exhaust termination when the dryer is on.
Clothes that require more than one cycle to dry may also be evidence that it’s time to clean the dryer vents. Any dryer, whether or not it is exhibiting any of the above signs, needs to have its vents cleaned if it has been a year since its last been cleaned.
The Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning
The importance of having dryer vents cleaned out cannot be overstated. Thousands of homes catch fire each year and an untold number of deaths occur because of clogged dryer vents. These, fortunately, are preventable. Having dryers vents unclogged at least once a year and/or when they begin exhibiting signs of being clogged is very important. In addition to possibly saving one’s life (and that of their family) or one’s home, it can also help reduce a person’s electricity bills. Most people spent an additional $288 each year towards their utilities because clogged dryer vents require that additional electricity is used to power the dryer.
Lint is nearly microscopic and is composed of fluffy textile fibers and often break out of the weave that they belong to in clothing and other fabrics. This accumulates especially in dryer vents, even if you have a lint screen in place. Lint build up not only adversely affects the performance of your dryer, it also carries with it risks to your equipment and home.