Do you know how to clean your Dryer Vent? When a dryer breaks, it’s inconvenient and expensive to fix. But when the dryer vent becomes clogged or broken, this is something you should pay attention to immediately.
When your dryer works properly, it helps prevent fires because it draws moisture out of the smallest creases of every item you dry. Today, we will share five important tips to keep in mind when maintaining your dryer vent.
Why Cleaning Dryer Vent is a Necessity?
Cleaning the dryer vent is a crucial step, especially if you want to keep your clothes dry and your home safe. If you haven’t cleaned it in the past six months, you must do it right now.
Tons of lint can build up inside the dryer vent, clog the exhaust pipe and make venting difficult. It will cause your dryer to work harder to remove moisture from your clothes. In turn, this can cause damage to the components of the machine due to frequent overheating.
5 Important Safety Tips for Dryer Vent
- Clean your venting system annually
This is an important dryer vent safety tip that will help keep your home safe. As per the National Fire Protection Association, fires caused by lint are responsible for an average of 220 deaths every year, so it’s worth paying attention to this tip. Over time, the lint that collects inside your venting system can catch fire and cause significant damage if not cleaned regularly. The NFPA recommends having your vents cleaned at least once per year.
- Check for blockages
The most common problem with dryer vents is blockages. Over time, lint and other debris can build up in the ducts, preventing proper airflow. A professional cleaning can help eliminate these blockages, but you should also check the Vent yourself yearly. Ensure there aren’t any leaves or other debris caught in the ductwork. If there is, try vacuuming them out — don’t use a brush or anything abrasive! Call a professional to clean them out for you if you have trouble getting to them.
- Inspect your dryer vent
Inspect the duct from the back of your machine to the wall exhaust opening. If there is a fabric cover on the duct, open it. Look through it for blockages. Check behind the engine for signs of lint buildup. For gas units, look inside the drum for any accumulation of ash; for electric units, look behind the control panel or around electrical components for any lint accumulation; and inspect along all sides of pop-up models for accumulations of lint around their tracks.
- Know the codes
Before you start inspecting your dryer vent cleaning equipment system, you must know the codes that apply to your area and the laws in your community. Many sites require homeowners to have their dryer vents cleaned professionally every one to three years, so be ensure to check with local authorities before attempting any self-cleaning.
- Tighten the screws that hold the Vent onto your house
A common problem with dryer vents is that they come loose over time, then fall off. Sometimes this happens slowly, and you don’t even notice it. But if you don’t fix it, the Vent can fall completely and obstruct your ductwork. It could result in a fire hazard and serious damage to your home or personal property. In addition to tightening the screws every few years, inspect your vent system every year or two to ensure that everything is in good shape.
How to Clean Your Vent Dryer?
- Remove the Vent from the outside wall of your home.
- You can use a handheld vacuum to remove most of the lint, dirt, and dust from the inside of the Vent.
- When you have cleaned out as much as possible, you will want to use a dryer vent brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. The brush that comes with most vacuum cleaners are too large for dryer vents, so you will need to purchase one separately.
- With the brush attached to your vacuum, begin at one end of the dryer vent and insert the brush into the vent opening. You may have to wiggle it around a bit to get it to go in, but once it is in place, turn on your vacuum cleaner and move it along about every three inches or so until you have cleaned out as much as possible.
- Once you have removed lint from the inside of the Vent, it is important to check both outlets where the air is coming out from Vent. Use flexible metal coat hangers and straighten them out, so they are like little wands. Place one end into each outlet and see if any lint has built up in each one.
Need of professionals to clean dryer Vent
Trying to clean the vents yourself may cost you time and money as well. So, if you have time and don’t mind spending money, cleaning the Vent yourself is okay. But if you are in a hurry or don’t want to spend the extra cash, hiring a professional cleaning company is a way better idea.
The cleaning dryer vent is an easy task for a professional company but can be complicated for folks who do not know what they are doing.
Conclusion
In reading this article, you have already taken a step in the right direction towards air vent safety. So, now you are well aware of the great dangers associated with air pressure pipes, it is essential to take the necessary measures to protect your home from potential fires and explosions. Whether you decide to clean your dryer’s vents by yourself or hire someone else to do it for you, don’t forget about taking these five important safety tips into account in the future.
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