Routine Dryer Vent Maintenance Can Prevent Fires
Clogged dryer vents are the leading cause of house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States. And yet, these dangers are easily prevented with an annual dryer vent cleaning service.
Our dryer exhaust technicians are all certified to do a thorough cleaning that will give you much-needed peace of mind. Call or book online with us today.
Signs Your Dryer Vent Needs a Cleaning
Like a dirty chimney, a dirty dryer vent can be dangerous. There are several signs that your dryer vent needs cleaning. If you notice any of these, it’s time to call a pro:
- Clothes take longer to dry.
- Clothes are hotter than usual at the end of the cycle.
- Excess lint appears in the lint trap after each cycle.
- The dryer is hot to the touch after a cycle.
- Your laundry room is warmer and more humid than usual.
- Damper (or flappers) on exhaust termination doesn’t open or barely opens when dryer is on.
- The dryer emits a burning smell.
How Often to Have Your Dryer Vent Cleaned
Regular professional dryer vent cleaning is essential to maintain efficient dryer performance and prevent lint buildup. Light use warrants an annual cleaning, but some households generating more laundry should consider two, three, or even four times a year to prevent debris from building up and becoming a fire hazard.
Ultimately, investing in annual vent cleaning can prevent costly repairs and renovations in your laundry room.
Why Is Dryer Vent Cleaning Important?
Plenty of people are unaware of the hazards that lie inside their clothes dryer ducts. In some cases, we find that great boulders of lint have accumulated. This lint leads to reduced airflow and is highly combustible, as are the nests of birds, insects, and other small critters that we sometimes find near the exhaust port. In fact, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), nearly 3,000 clothes dryer fires are reported in residential buildings each year, resulting in an average of five deaths, 100 injuries, and $3 million in property loss.
Because we hear more about dryer fires now than we did several decades ago, some have come to believe that the dryer vent cleaning industry is a scam and that the compelling reasons behind having your ducts professional cleaned are just marketing gimmicks. But the truth is, houses are built differently today and many dryer ducts have to travel a longer path before reaching the outdoors. This has exacerbated the chance of catastrophic dryer fires. In addition, improper installations, connections, and liners are to blame for many of the dryer fires we see.
The Facts About Dryer Fires
These statistics come from data collected in the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS):
- Clothes dryer fires happen more often in the fall and winter – and peak in the month of January.
- “Failure to clean” is the leading cause of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
- Dust, fiber, lint, and clothing not on a person are, by far, the leading items first ignited in clothes dryer fires.
Book With Us Now
Schedule a dryer duct cleaning today. Call Jack Pixley Sweeps at 763-422-0481 or schedule your spot online – we’d love to hear from you!
What would you like to know about us? We’re happy to answer all your questions and we look forward to having you as a valued customer of Jack Pixley Sweeps.