You probably rely on your washer and dryer a lot, especially if you have a large family. However, one thing you may not consider is that you need to regularly clean your dryer vent.
The vent is important because it carries away lint and other particles. Dryer vents run from the back of the appliances to an opening that leads outside. If left untouched, the vents can get clogged and create some problems for your home. Take a look at some of the top reasons why need to have your dryer vent cleaned as soon as possible!
The Dryer Will Last Longer
With regular dryer vent cleaning, you can make the appliance last longer. Do you remember the old dryer your parents had and wonder how it lasted for 10 years or longer when your last dryer died after a few years? A common reason why these appliances do not last long is that you don't clean the vent.
The vent reduces the heat inside the dryer and helps it run more efficiently. If you do not clean it, the dryer uses more power each time it runs and can die within a few years.
Your Clothes Will Last Longer
A good dryer only needs to run for a short period to completely dry your clothes. Whether you wash a full load of heavy clothes and bed linens or a smaller load, it should never take more than an hour to dry everything. Most modern dryers can do the job in much less time.
When you have a clogged vent, the dryer needs to run for more time to dry the things inside. That also leads to heat buildup inside the appliance. That excess heat can do a lot of damage to the fabric.
It Reduces Your Power Bills
You can spend a lot of time turning off lights and looking for other ways to reduce your electric bills and still use more power than you wanted. If that’s your case, then now is a good time to check your vent.
If the dryer vent is clogged with lint and other matter, it cannot run efficiently. The dryer will use more power to produce more heat. Even using your dryer just a few times a week can result in some high bills. Cleaning the vents can help you save money every month.
You Spend Less Time Drying Your Clothes
Do you find yourself tossing a load of laundry into the dryer and finding that the load is still damp each time you check it? This is a big sign that you need dryer vent repair or cleaning.
Dryers that have clogged vents do not have a safe space to remove the excess heat inside. While you might expect the heat to dry your clothes quickly, the heat rises and sticks to the top of the drum. If the vent needs cleaning, it can take 90 minutes or longer to dry a single load.
Fewer Fumes in Your Home
One of the most important jobs that a dryer vent does is that it releases fumes from the dryer to the outside. Even the smallest clogs in the vent will cause those fumes to come inside your home.
While you may think that the fumes are non-toxic, they can make you and your family sick. You also risk the fumes moving through the ducts to reach other areas of your home, which can lead to carbon monoxide buildup.
Improve Air Quality
Paying for dryer vent services is a good and easy way to improve the air quality in your home. Do you have a stuffy nose that never goes away or find yourself coughing often? These are signs that your home has poor air quality.
An improper dryer vent can also lead to moisture buildup, which causes mold to settle in your laundry room. That mold can further worsen your symptoms. When you clean the vent, you should notice some changes to your symptoms within a few days already.
Prevent Fires
The biggest reason to clean your dryer vent is that it reduces the risk of fire. Clogged dryer vents are one of the more common causes of house fires in the United States.
Between the friction of the fabric in the dryer and the lint lodged in the trap, a small spark can occur that breaks out into a fire. This fire can quickly spread from the dryer to other parts of your home.
While you might think that the average dryer vent repair cost is too high, it helps you avoid the high insurance bills you face after a fire.
Contact a local dryer vent cleaning company and request a free quote for your project and any repairs you may need!
MORE FROM HOMEYOU
10 Easy Ways To Keep Your Laundry Room Organized
5 Easy Ways To Make Your Laundry Room More Fun (and Useful!)
10 Cleaning Hacks You Should Avoid At All Costs