4 Excellent Reasons to Start Cleaning Your Dryer Vent

How often do you think about your dryer vent? If you’re like most homeowners, you don't give your dryer vent a second (or even a first) thought. And if you’re not thinking about that vent, you’re probably not contemplating dryer vent cleaning either, right?

If that’s the case, you should know: Dryer vent cleaning should never be neglected. Curious why? The experts at Dust Doctors share a few excellent reasons below.

Routine Dryer Vent Cleaning Decreases Your Fire Risk

If you’re never thinking about your dryer vent, you probably don’t see it as a potential fire hazard. But dryers are the number one cause of house fires nationwide. Every year, around 2,900 dryer fires are the culprits behind:

●        Approximately 100 accounts of personal injury

●        5 completely unnecessary deaths

●        Over $35 million on property losses

While it’s easy to assume your home or family members couldn’t possibly become the victims of a dryer fire, the reality is it can happen to anyone. Keeping your dryer vents clean is one the simplest and most effective things you can do to prevent a dryer fire from affecting your household.

For safety's sake, schedule a thorough dryer vent cleaning at least once a year. If you do a ridiculous amount of laundry, your vent may require cleaning at more frequent intervals since the lint trap only captures a portion of the lint that comes off your linens. The rest of that lint ends up in the vent tubing. And of course, don’t forget to clean out that lint trap after every load!

Dryer Vent Cleaning Improves Dryer Efficiency

Do you feel like your dryer takes an excessively long time to get things dry? Perhaps the cycle finishes but your clothes are still slightly damp when you open the door? A dirty dryer vent may be the culprit.

A dryer vent that’s clogged with lint and other debris cannot efficiently remove moisture from wet clothing and linens. Humidity gets trapped in the dryer’s drum, which keeps the items inside it damp. Sometimes, the cycle will finish before the linens are completely dry or, if you have a moisture-sensing dryer, the cycle will require an excessive amount of time to reach completion.

Professional dryer vent cleaning effectively removes the accumulated debris from within the vent and tubing. When the tubing is clear, humidity can escape the dryer drum efficiently during the cycle. Ultimately, your clothing and linens will require less time to dry completely.

Cleaning the Vent Can Reduce Energy Bills

When your dryer doesn’t have to operate for longer than necessary to dry things properly, it won’t require nearly as much electricity or gas. Whether you’ve got an electric or gas-powered dryer, increasing its efficiency with dryer vent cleaning will ultimately help lower your monthly energy bills.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Can Minimize the Need for Dryer Repairs

A clogged dryer vent can put unnecessary stress on the appliance, which may increase the risk of premature breakdown. If the dryer is forced to operate longer and hotter than necessary to get your clothing and linens dry, its components will wear out faster than they should. Keeping the vent free of debris is one of the easiest ways to prevent premature system deterioration.

How do you know when your dryer vents are due for cleaning? Check out a few telltale signs it’s time to clean your dryer vents.

Looking for a Dryer Vent Cleaning Service in the Twin Cities?

Whether you’ve never had your dryer vents cleaned or they’re due for a refresher, call our team at Dust Doctors. We specialize in comprehensive dryer vent cleaning, duct cleaning, and HVAC cleaning and serve homes throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. To get started, go ahead and request a free quote, call us today at 651-319-9777, or contact us online.