Dryer Vent Cleaning Will Prevent Problems

Many problems can be eliminated with regular dryer vent cleaning. Here are some things to think about.

Regular dryer vent cleaning will not only cut down on breakdowns but also curtail potentially dangerous situations. Many homeowners are unaware that clogged up hoses and ductwork are a major cause of household fires. There are multiple problems that can be headed off before they arise with basic preventative maintenance tactics. Some of these steps can be taken by the homeowner while others will require a handyman or ductwork cleaning service. Here are some things to think about:

Top problems that occur:

- Loose or damaged external vents: The pathway leading from the inside to the outside must have a free flowing pathway for the hot air to travel out. If this has become loosened, damaged or painted shut, the hot air may become trapped.

- Bird or rodent gets lodged in pathway: Especially in the winter, birds and rodents are attracted to cozy spaces that have warmth circulating. This is like a heated home for them so naturally they’ll be drawn to setting up residence. Unfortunately, this causes a living clog which can result in an unworkable appliance and the death of the animal. Not only is this unfortunate, but it smells terrible, too.

- Lint clog: When laundry is dried in this appliance, lots of lint and fuzz accumulates. A good habit to establish from day one is to clean the lint trap out after every single load of laundry. This will keep jam ups from occurring in the tubes in the first place.

- Screen plugged: Keeping the screens clear will keep lint clogs from occurring. Certain types of fabrics will be especially problematic because they seem to shed more. Some examples are towels, blankets, furry jackets and knit items.

- Crushed ductwork: Make sure your ductwork isn’t squished or crushed behind the unit as this will hamper flow.

- Electrical shut down because of clogged system: Jammed up systems will hamper air flow which can cause electrical overload and power surges which can shut down the dryer and blow fuses.

Some steps to take to keep your dryer hoses functional and your system safe:

- Clean lint trip after every load of laundry.

- Disconnect hoses from appliance and clean thoroughly by vacuuming.

- Go outside during a drying cycle to make sure air is flowing freely.

- Clean around and behind the appliance on a regular basis.

- Have a service professional clean out the inner workings of the appliance periodically.

- Take special care in laundering items that have had motor oil, turpentine, gasoline or any potentially flammable items spilled on them. These may need to be washed separately and hung dry before putting them through the spin cycles.

- Fabric, foil or plastic ductwork attracts more fuzz and debris than the new metal corrugated products. Consider replacing your old tubing with new.

Homeowners should add dryer vent cleaning to their “to do” list and perform the chore regularly. They can take care of this household chore themselves or hire a service to do it. By checking this chore off on a regular basis, their appliance will last longer and their homes will be safer.

Article Tags: Dryer Vent Cleaning, Dryer Vent, Vent Cleaning

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