Every year, there are reports of nearly 3000 clothes dryer fires per year. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, they account for about five deaths, 100 injuries, and over $35 million in property loss each year. These fires are because of dirty dryer units and vents, but they are 100 percent preventable with a little dryer vent maintenance. Call the professionals at Pristine Sweeps today to get your dryer vent cleaned!
Why The Dryer Needs Maintenance
When your dryer runs, heat is generated to dry your clothes. Any byproducts left over from this process must be removed. Your dryer vent carries heat, moisture, and lint out of the unit and out of the home. If you have a gas-fueled dryer, the vent exhausts carbon monoxide. If the vent stops working, is clogged, or has a leak, these materials will come into the house. This will also affect the air you breathe, damage wall coverings and furniture, and shorten the life of your unit.
Signs Your Dryer Needs To Be Serviced
Many homeowners see problems with their dryer and assume the system is worn out. This is not always the case. In fact, most of the issues with your dryer can be blamed on a dirty vent.
- Excess Heat – If your dryer heats your house while it runs, feels hot to the touch, or the clothes are extra hot when the cycle is finished, your dryer vent needs to be cleaned.
- Excess Moisture – If your dryer or surfaces get covered in moisture, or if your home, wall coverings, and furniture is affected by too much moisture, your dryer isn’t venting properly.
- Working Poorly – If your dryer requires more than one cycle to dry a moderately-sized load, there is a problem with it. Many homeowners think their unit is worn out, but no dryer should function this poorly unless it’s over 5 years old.
- No Lint in Trap – When you check and empty the lint trap and it is almost empty, then there is likely a problem with your unit. This is caused by a clogged vent that doesn’t properly pull the air out of the system, so it doesn’t deposit lint in the trap. If you find an empty lint trap on a regular basis, check the outlet to see if the flap is stuck. You can also check for visible signs of lint buildup, and determine if air is flowing properly.
Pristine Sweeps Clean Dryer Vents
You can protect your home and wallet by scheduling a dryer vent cleaning with Pristine Sweeps today. Your dirty dryer vents are costing you money whether you know it or not. Running your dryer more than once for one load of laundry is wasting energy and taking years off the life of the unit. A dryer unit should last 10 years according to manufacturers. Repeating a cycle 2-3 times shorten the life of the unit by 2-5 years! It costs you money in electricity and gas, and it’s also hard on your clothes.
Fire damage can cost a fortune depending on the damage. It also cost in insurance claims, deductibles, medical bills, general contractor fees, permits, and more. Do not take the risk! Call a Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician, who knows the ins and outs of dryer vent, today!