It may be tempting to take on the task of cleaning your dryer's air vent yourself, but it's not a good idea. Even if the ventilation is short, the risks of cleaning dryer vents yourself can be dangerous. Homeowners have a never-ending list of maintenance tasks that need to be done, and some of them require professional help. Cleaning the dryer vent is one of those tasks that should be left to the experts. Most people are diligent about cleaning their dryer's lint filter before each load of laundry.
But lint can still pass through the screen and accumulate in the hoses or ducts that vent the outside. Dryer fires are one of the leading causes of home fires in the United States, and too much lint can prevent air flow in the vent and cause the appliance to overheat. Excess lint can also be ignited by the heating elements of the dryer. Warning signs that your vents are becoming unsafe include garments that take longer to dry, don't dry completely, or get hot to the touch after a cycle. You may also notice that the dryer is hotter than usual after it is put into operation or that the air around the appliance is humid.
Not cleaning the ventilation grilles will not only increase the risk of fire, but it can also cost you a significant amount of money. If your dryer isn't working as efficiently as it should, it could lead to an increase in your electricity bill. The lifespan of your dryer can also be shortened if you don't clean its ventilation grille regularly. How often you clean it depends on your washing habits, but it should be done at least once a year. If you're constantly washing a lot of clothes, you may need to clean it more often - The Fire Administration recommends cleaning it every three months.If you want to clean your dryer vent yourself, make sure you unplug it first and be able to separate it from the wall.
Specialized brushes are available to help you clean the vents and ducts, and they should also be used to clean the cavity where the lint filter is held since a considerable amount of lint can accumulate in this space. Keep a workshop vacuum handy to vacuum up dust or hidden areas where lint has accumulated. By removing the vent cap, you can brush each section of hose or duct individually and remove any lumps of lint that have accumulated. The crevice attachment on your vacuum is useful for cleaning the hole in the back of the dryer where the hose or duct connects, and it also works well to remove lint from hoses or ducts themselves. You may want to run an empty dryer in air-drying configuration with its cover off to expel any loose pieces of fluff that you haven't been able to remove. Once you have finished cleaning, replace the vent cap and reassemble the hose or ducts.
You might consider replacing semi-rigid flexible ducts with adjustable rigid elbows since semi-rigid hoses can build up when put back in place, inhibiting air flow. Consider replacing flexible hoses with metal ducts since lint is less likely to accumulate in this type of ventilation, which is also more likely to contain any fire caused by the dryer. If your dryer has only a small number of ducts to vent to the outside, you may be able to do this job yourself. However, if your vents are spread out for dozens of feet before reaching outside, an HVAC professional will be able to save you time and better clean longer vents. Brush kits are sometimes insufficient for this job and may even end up puncturing your dryer hose if you're not careful. The brushes can also get stuck in ridges of flexible ducts, at which point you'll have to call a professional to remove this new obstacle from your ventilation grille.
HVAC professionals have tools that are better suited for cleaning ventilation grilles than a simple brush - one option is a compressed air system that snakes through ducts to push or pull clogged lint out through an outside vent. A professional can also diagnose your ventilation system for leaks or any other problems. You can easily schedule another checkup with an HVAC specialist who visits you to clean your dryer vent - they may even be able to inspect your oven on the same visit. Every homeowner should know how to clean their lint filter before using their dryer, but there are other measures that can help reduce lint accumulation in ventilation ducts too - like hanging sheets, pillows, or other bulky items instead of running them through a dryer. In conclusion, cleaning your dryer vent yourself is not recommended due to safety concerns and potential damage caused by improper cleaning techniques. It's best left up to professionals who have access to specialized tools and know how best to safely clean your vents without causing any damage. If you're looking for an experienced HVAC specialist who can help with dryer vent cleaning services, contact us today! We'll provide you with an experienced technician who will inspect and clean your vents quickly and safely.
