Categories Dryer Fire Prevention, Dryer Fire Safety, Dryer Vent Cleaning

Why Screens Should Not be Used on Dryer Vent End Caps

Clogged dryer vent

Screens Should Not be Used On Dryer Vent!

Screens should never be used on dryer vents for the simple reason they prevent lint escaping. Whilst this does not happen straight away it does so slowly over time, damp air escapes first followed by lint that sticks to the dampness inside the dryer vent and if a screen or grill is fitted the lint starts to bond to it too. Over a period of time this then forms a lint plug like you see in the photo.

Keep Pests Out Can Increase The Risk of a Dryer Fire?

Some people put screens over the end cap of their dryer vent to prevent birds or critters from moving in. Whilst this may seem to make sense, the truth is it is not the best of decisions as once the vent gets plugged at the end the lint has no where else to go. Just like cholesterol it builds up over time and starts to restrict the airflow thus lint starts to accumulate inside the dryer itself. Lint starts to settle inside the dryer cabinet and on or around the dryers heating element.

Dryer Fires Start Inside The Dryer

So the screen on the end of the dryer vent caused a lint plug, this then causes the lint to accumulate more through the dryer vent and inside the dryer. The lint inside the dryer is what causes dryer fires, the heating element glows red and reaches temperatures as high as 190 degrees fahrenheit all it needs is for a clump of lint to sit on the element and you can have a dryer fire on your hands.

Never Leave Your Dryer Running When No One is Home

The dryer should only be run when someone is in the house, also you should not run the dryer when sleeping at night this is not to scare you but just to draw attention to the fact there are hidden dangers in the home and the dryer is one of them.

 

Author VentExpert
Categories Dryer Vent Cleaning

The Top 4 Reasons Why You Should Clean Dryer Vent And Dryer

dryer vent cleaning in Burlington Ontario

Should you clean your dryer and dryer vent?

dryer vent cleaning in Burlington OntarioYes, they tend to build up lint and other debris from your clothing and make the vents a fire hazard.  Cleaning the vents prevents any build up and saves energy as the air flows freely through the vents. When your dryer vent starts to get clogged lint then builds up inside your dryer cabinet. This lint accumulation can start to build up around the dryer element that reaches temperatures over 300 degrees, this is how a fire starts!

How often should the dryer vent be cleaned?

The vents for your dryer should be cleaned at least once every year.  It does depend on your drying load but the rule of thumb would be every 12 months.  If you think that’s too often, then you can figure it out by the amount of loads you dry and use this as a guideline:

  • 1-2 loads per week – every 2 years
  • 4 to 5 loads per week – annually
  • 8 to 10 loads per week – 6 months
  • 2 to 3 loads per Day – every  3 months

How often should inside the dryer be cleaned?

Whirlpool the biggest dryer manufacturer recommends cleaning the inside of the dryer cabinet every two years to remove lint buildup and help prevent fire.

The best 2 ways of cleaning your dryer vents

The lint screen should be cleaned every time you dry a load of clothes.  Make a habit of check it before or after you use your dryer.  Cleaning the lint screen not only saves energy, hence, saving you money, but it also dry’s your load faster and saves wear and tear on your dryer.  Again, saving you money in replacement parts or replacing the dryer.

DIY dryer vent cleaning

Disconnect the dryer’s electric cord and pull it from the wall.  Take off the vent at the bottom of the dryer.  Go outside and remove the vent cover from the house.

You will find most of the debris at both ends, but use a vacuum to pull any lint that is sitting in the tubes.  Be sure to check the area where the vent tube dips down or goes around a corner.  Lint tends to build up in those areas.  When you use the vacuum, some vacuums can blow as well as suck in air.  You can either blow out the lint or suck it through the vent. It’s best to blow from the inside to the outside, it saves on clean up.

Be careful about sticking anything into the vent tubes.  They can and will damage the vents. Replace the covers on the outside of the house, reattach the vent to the bottom of the dryer, plug in the electric cord, and you are ready to start drying again.  Another way to clean your dryer vents is to use a professional service.

How to find a Professional  dryer cleaner and dryer vent cleaner

Using a professional service is easy.  They have all the tools and know how to clean the vents and take apart your dryer to remove all lint.  It will take them a between an hour to 1 1/2 hours.  If you’re not a do it yourself-er, then it’s best to use a professional dryer and dryer vent cleaning service.  You can find one by using a search engine on the Internet or your mobile phone.

Type in “dryer vent cleaning” into the search engine.  You can add the name of your city to find one located close by such as “dryer vent cleaning Burlington“.  Another way is to read any reviews the company has to find the best one.  Also, ask your friends and family if they know of a service you can use.  Word of mouth is the best recommendation you can get for using a company.  Give them a call and schedule an appointment.  You will have to be there since they need access to your dryer, but it should only take a little bit of your time – until the next cleaning, that is.

Author VentExpert