Why Bother With Dryer Vent Cleaning

Dryer vent safety is extremely important because dryer vents are larger fire hazards than chimneys. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, dryer exhaust fires cause 10 deaths, 310 injuries, and 15,500 fires each year. The Dryer Exhaust Technicians at The Mad Hatter offer dryer vent cleaning and services such as re-routing vents that are designed to keep your family safe.
 

Reasons to clean your dryer vents:

  • Reduce energy required to dry clothing
  • Prevent ignition that can lead to a fire
  • Extend the lifetime of the dryer

Modern Changes in Home Design

Many homes these days feature a dryer on the top floor with a long, concealed venting run containing multiple elbows. It is much more difficult for homeowners to maintain this than the traditional short run that vents out of a basement window. It can also be difficult to determine whether there are issues with the vent.

Newly constructed homes feature tighter construction and are usually built to accommodate a dryer. Proper dryer and vent run operation are essential but is overlooked in many instances. While the dryer is running, it exhausts air from the home. In addition to venting moisture from drying clothing, a gas appliance vents combustion products like carbon monoxide. This exhaust is expelled into the atmosphere outside of the home. A plastic, accordion-style run is no longer acceptable and does not meet codes in most places. Rigid metal is the preferred connector material, with (while) the shortest possible length of a metal, UL listed flex connector is an alternative.

Dirty Dryer Vent material collecting inside dryer vent pipe held up by a person
Lint Clogged Dryer Vent

The Dangers of Lint

Consumers are often surprised to learn that an accumulation of just ½-inch of lint within a four-inch vent can reduce airflow by nearly 50 percent. This accumulation requires the dryer to work harder and is an additional reason to have dryer vent cleaning performed. Dryers run at high temperatures and have limit safety switches that prevent their temperatures from becoming too high. However, reduced air flow can cause the appliances to frequently cycle off and on, wearing out these switches. In addition, dryer lint is a fire-starting material.

The Dryer Vent Cleaning Process:

  1. The professional moves the dryer away from the wall.
  2. An electric blower is attached to the dryer vent.
  3. Outside, a system is set up that features flexible rods making several 90-degree turns. This creates the necessary rotation to scrub the vent.
  4. The brush, rod, and drill move in and out repeatedly while the vacuum blows air into the vent.

If you would like to schedule your dryer vent to be cleaned, please contact us at 317-596-0200 to schedule your appointment or fill out our scheduling form.

Chimney caps can add to the appearance and the overall efficient functioning of your chimney, so be sure to check out what you need to know. You know you can rely on information about having your chimney and vents cleaned when you’re dealing with professionals like Mad Hatter Indy.