Your clothes dryer makes your life easier. Laundry is finished without the hassle of sweaty afternoons beneath a clothes line, and so what if you have to restart the cycle two or three times to get the clothes completely dry. It’s normal, right?
Wrong.
Five Myths About Your Clothes Dryer
- Once you install your clothes dryer, you can forget about it.
False: your clothes dryer should be professionally installed and the dryer vent should be inspected annually. Many homeowners install their own clothes dryer, buying the vent hose at the local home improvement store without realizing that most cities and towns have municipal codes that regulate the length and size of the hose. The best way to insure your clothes dryer is installed correctly is to have it done professionally. - It’s normal for the dryer to warm the house in the summer.
False: this is a symptom of a clogged dryer vent. The clothes dryer itself is a closed unit. All warm air, vapors, and lint should be drawn through the vent and released outside the house. If the dryer is hot to the touch or is heating the room where it’s installed, it’s a sure sign that the vent is clogged and not functioning properly. - If I clean my lint trap regularly, that’s enough.
False: the lint trap removes a lot of the lint from the dryer vent hose, but not all of it. If you clean the lint trap frequently (ideally it should be done after each cycle) and the dryer is still functioning improperly, your dryer vent is most likely clogged. - My dryer vent hose won’t reach. I can leave it off for now. False: not only can the moisture ruin your walls and cause mold, but the vapors released by the dryer can cause respiratory issues for the whole family.
- My dryer isn’t a fire hazard–It’s electric!
False: 2,900 home fires are reported due to clothes dryers each year. These fires account for about 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.
The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them.
The CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician® certification was created with home safety in mind. Now homeowners are able to find and hire professionals experienced in dryer vent cleaning. This is a job that can be done in one appointment and includes: moving the dryer, attaching an electric blower to the dryer vent, using a series of rotating brushes and tools to clean the vent hose, and collecting debris in a vacuum system to contain the mess. This process isn’t complicated or costly, but it is necessary.
If you’ve been neglecting your dryer vent you can schedule your dryer vent cleaning now and avoid a dangerous hazard. Call 317-596-0200 today or schedule an appointment online.