Why Should I Clean My Dryer Vent?

How important is dryer vent cleaning? Is it really necessary?

We think so. Here’s what we think you should know…

When it comes to home maintenance, dryer vent cleaning is often completely neglected. When was the last time you remember cleaning your dryer vents? Some people don’t even know you should clean them at all! But neglecting them could leave you with some serious issues. As you’ll see, dryer vent cleaning is something we would consider an essential home maintenance project.

• Fire Prevention

  First on the list is your safety. Did you know that clogged dryer vents are one of the leading causes of house fires? Lint is highly flammable which is why you clean the filter before/after every load of clothes. However, that filter doesn’t catch it all. Over time, this extra lint and debris accumulates down your dryer vent line and starts to build up. As you can imagine, bunches of lint can be highly flammable! Heat generated from your dryer can ignite this buildup. It’s only a matter of seconds before the lint lined dryer vent is fully engulfed, resulting in expensive damages or worse, the loss of your home. While this may sound like a scare tactic, a simple Google search would show that dryer vents are common source of home fires and shouldn’t be neglected. Regular cleanings significantly reduces the chance of a lint buildup from igniting. A simple cleaning could protect your family and your home from the worst.

• Enhanced Efficiency

  I like saving money ANY way I can around the house! That’s one reason I switched to LED lightbulbs as soon as I realized how much money you save on such an easy switch-out. Not only does a clogged dryer vent pose a serious fire hazard, but it also affects your dryers ability to dry your clothes efficiently, costing you money. Your dryers heating system relies on a reliable source of clean air AND an open path to expel hot, moist air from the dryer cycle. Blockage in your vent forces the dryer to work harder to push this hot air through the system. This causes a lot more stress on your dryer as it works harder and harder to keep up. This extra work consumes more energy, resulting in higher utility bills, and unnecessary wear and tear on your appliance. Dryer vent cleaning optimizes the escape route for hot air from your dryer so it can easily work on drying your clothes and saving you money.

• Extended Dryer Lifespan

  Dryers with clogged vents experience additional strain, leading to premature wear and tear on their system. A clogged vent forces the dryer to work hard, meaning higher levels of heat is needed and greater spinning power to dry your clothes. As you can imagine, running any tool on a higher gear than it’s supposed to work at all times can only lead to premature failure. A clean dryer vent allows your dryer to adjust its drying cycle to accommodate the load, not the vent. This ensures that your dryer operates at its best for years to come, ultimately saving you from costly repairs, replacing your dryer, the struggle of removing your old dryer and getting your new dryer into place, and more.

  (When we moved into our home, the appliances had not been taken care of and the dryer went “kaput” shortly after moving in. While we got a good deal on a new one, I NEVER want to experience the headache and pain of moving appliances in and out of our laundry room! I didn’t realize how awkward the space was until we had a stuck dryer!)

• Time and Convenience

  I like clean clothes. During winter, clothes fresh from the dryer are one of my favorite things after a cold day working outside! That’s harder to experience when your dryer is working overtime to dry your clothes. When the system is clogged up, less air is circulating through the system which means the dryer has to take longer with every load. Many people I talk to have gotten into the habit of running the same load twice! I don’t know about you, but I think we all lead busy lives and the last thing my wife and I want to do is spend EXTRA hours RE-drying the laundry. I don’t even want to think about the frustration or the valuable time I could be spending somewhere else with my family. Getting your dryer vents cleaned out allow you to experience that freshly warmed clothes from your dryer experience in less time, allow you to get back to what matters most to you

• Improved Indoor Air Quality

  When your dryer vent accumulates with lint, it does more than simply reducing airflow. It actually back releases lint particles back into your home as your dryer struggles to expel dirty air. Those with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues can be easily triggered. Regular dryer vent cleaning allows your dryer to push these contaminants OUT of your home, allowing you to breath much healthier air. I struggled enough with breathing issues growing up, I don’t need any help with difficulty breathing! A clean dryer vent promotes a fresher home to be enjoyed more.

Don’t overlook your dryer vents. Get them cleaned! Whether you do it yourself or call a professional, it is a matter of safety to get it done. Don’t neglect it!

Want to see what can come out of your dryer vent? Watch our video HERE!