Cleaning – Inspection - Water Leak Prevention
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Dryer Vent
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Dryer Vent Cleaning
What does a dryer duct cleaning company do?
As one of the top rated Central Florida Dryer Vent and Chimney cleaning companies, we start by measuring both the airflow and temperature at an outlet from your dryer, these measurements will be notated for reference. We do this at both the beginning and end of our visit. This gives us the improvements as a result of the cleaning as well as establishes a relationship with your particular system and its day to day operations and capacity. In our notes, we will begin tracking your system and will have accurate notes to compare your system back to itself at future visits to determine if it needs a cleaning.
According to a report by the U.S. Fire Administration, clothes dryers are responsible for approximately 15,500 structure fires in our country every year. A staggering 80% of these fires start with a clogged dryer duct! Sadly, these have resulted in up to 15 deaths and 400 injuries a year. Thousands of other homeowners and/or occupants are treated for symptoms of poisonous gas fumes, also caused by a blocked dryer duct.
Dryer fires usually start after the lint has built up in the dryer duct to a point where the airflow is restricted causing the motor to overheat and ignite the highly flammable lint throughout your dryer ducts. Any airflow pushes the fire through the duct causing the fire to spread. Like wind on a wildfire. Depending on how the dryer duct is constructed through the house it’s not uncommon for the fire to spread through the walls of the house causing catastrophic property damage, personal injury and possibly loss of life.
Cleaning your lint trap every 2 – 3 loads is great practice, but unfortunately it’s not enough to prevent lint clogging up the vent. Keeping the dryer vent cleaned is essential to the performance and safety of the dryer. Our skilled dryer duct Technicians can help you get your dryer running safely.
How do dryer ducts become clogged?
Sometimes the dryer’s lint trap is broken or incorrectly placed which allows lint to skip past the trap and into the duct. When this happens there is a greater possibility of the dryer vent getting clogged over time. Another common clog is actually caused by a crushed dryer duct. This happens when people move the dryer around and accidentally crush the flexible duct behind the machine.
This can also be caused by animals building nests or taking refuge inside the warm duct. This is quite common. We have cleaned many dryer ducts that have been inhabited by animals or clogged by bird’s nests.
How often should your dryer duct get cleaned?
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend annual dryer duct inspections and/or cleanings to ensure safer and often cheaper operation of your appliance. Frequency of duct cleaning will depend on several factors including how often it is used, if there are pets, how long the appliance is run and how many bends are in the ducts.
Here is a general guideline based on how many loads you dry per week:
- 1 – 3 loads a week should be cleaned approximately every 2 years.
- 4 – 7 loads a week should be cleaned annually.
- 8+ a week should receive cleanings about every 6 months. But this can change based on the layout of your dryer duct.
Warning signs to get your dryer duct cleaned
The drying time for your clothing takes longer and longer
Every clothes dryer duct system is different, but one thing is certain: A clogged dryer duct can increase the amount of time it takes to dry clothing by double or triple the time. What once used to take a thirty minute dry cycle now is taking sometimes up to two hours to dry. Most people don’t quite experience those extreme time differences but in our experience 60-70% of people will notice that after one cycle that their clothes aren’t quite dry yet and will restart the cycle again. Clothing that takes twice as long to dry is not only an energy waster, but also a fire hazard. This also adds much more wear and tear on the machine and cut the life of your dryer in half.
Your clothing and the outside of the dryer are very hot
Do you notice that the dryer is especially hot to the touch or that the cloths are much hotter at the end of the drying cycle? If the dryer duct becomes clogged it makes it so the heat can’t escape the machine properly. This can cause the heating element or the blower to wear out or overheat. In time this will break the dryer and cause the need for costly repairs or possibly replacement. You should also read our information on the dangers of a clogged dryer duct.
Burning smell
Do you smell a burning odor when you run your dryer? Lint is extremely flammable, and if this trapped lint gets too hot, it can catch on fire. If you start to smell a burning odor while running your dryer, stop and get it inspected.
Outside vent hood is clogged or doesn’t open
The outside vent opening of the dryer duct sometimes has a flap that opens and closes. If this flap isn’t opening while the dryer is running then it is most likely clogged. Dryer ducts are also favored by critters (birds, rodents and reptiles) to hide because it can stay nice and warm for them. If this outlet doesn’t have a flap and it’s just an opening sometimes birds make nests inside this and cause clogs.
It’s been longer than a year since your last inspection
Dryer duct cleaning should take place every one to two years. The average dryer duct cleaning company fees usually run between $150 and $250. If you haven’t gotten your dryer duct cleaned or inspected within the last two years, call us today for your peace of mind.
