Keep A Lint-Free Dryer Vent To Prevent Fires
Tom Patterson first noticed the thick black smoke when he pulled into his neighborhood in Doylestown in eastern Pennsylvania. The closer he got the more he felt his heart sink. As he turned the last corner towards home, his path was blocked by fire trucks, two police cars, and an ambulance. Yellow tape blocked the street, and a traffic control officer waved him to the side.
Getting out, Tom realized the smoke was coming from his house. Bushes and houses blocked his view, but he could tell from the smoke it was not going to be good.
An hour later when Tom was allowed through the roadblock, he found it wasn’t his home that burned. It was a neighbor’s home, and now the friend, his wife and their three children were standing in the driveway.
“I don’t know how it started,” said his friend. “The Fire Marshall said the fire began in the washroom.”
The neighbors’ home burned because of a lint-filled dryer vent. The owner had done everything properly. He had the dryer installed by a professional and double-checked the connections were installed according to code. He had even read the manufacturers’ guidebook and warnings, but he had forgotten to clean the dryer vent.
Steve Bridge of Dryer Duct Pros explains what homeowners should know to properly clean the dryer. Besides maintaining efficiency, Bridge’s tips will prevent the appliance from breaking down — or worse, destroying your home.
Dryer exhaust vents need to be inspected, and cleaned, at least annually. A home where lots of laundry is done should be cleaned at least three times a year.
Vents accumulate lint which is highly flammable. Failure to clean the dryer vent is the leading cause of dryer fires which can destroy a structure. The National Fire Protection Agency survey says almost 16,000 dryer fires happened in America in 2010-2014.
An easy sign it is time to clean the dryer vent is when clothes take longer to dry.
“When it takes two cycles to dry a load of towels, it’s time to clean,” says Bridge. Another indication of obstructed, or poor, venting is the dryer’s external cabinet is found to be hot to the touch, or hotter than normal. If that happens, the owner should immediately disconnect the dryer and examine the vent.
How To Clean
Inspect
Visually check the outside vent and remove any obstructions such as animal nests. Ground level nests attract rodents — chipmunks, rats, etc. Higher vents are attractive to birds.
Tackle
Tackle the lint using a flexible brush with an extension wang. An air compressor may blow the lint out, or a combination vacuum cleaner with brush attachment can work if the hose is long enough. Whichever method is used, rule #1 is to remove the lint from the entire length of the vent.
There’s More
You’re not finished. After removing the lint, remove dust from the area behind the dryer as well as the floor, the space beneath the dryer and the cabinet back. “The air being sucked into the dryer comes from behind the dryer,” says tk. “If there’s dust there it will be pulled back into the dryer and accelerate more build-up.”
Consider A Pro
If all this sounds too complicated — and it can be, hire a pro to do the work for you. The staff at Dryer Duct Pros are trained and experienced. Call today for a free consultation. The number is 732-770-4330.
“If you think it's costly to hire an expert to do the job, wait until you try to do it yourself.” Red Adair