Warning Signs!
If your dryer exhibits any of the following symptoms, it needs to be serviced by a qualified technician:
• The dryer is producing heat, but taking too long to dry.
• When a cycle is finished the clothes are still wet/damp.
• Increased cost of gas and/or electricity due to inefficient drying.
• After a cycle is complete the clothes are noticeable hotter than usual.
• The outdoor flapper on vent hood remains closed when the dryer is running.
• No air coming out of vent when the dryer is running.
Added Benefits!
After we perform a vent cleaning you will experience the following:
• Clothes drying significantly faster
• More efficient energy consumption; lower monthly energy bill
• Peace of mind and security in regards to your family’s safety
• Increased longevity and function of dryer
• Cleaner living environment
Along with our professional vent cleaning, we will inspect the dryer for any errors and/or component malfunctions. We will completely disassemble the dryer and clean out any buildup of lint that may have backed up inside the dryer cabinet.
We will ensure that you get an entirely fresh start to drying more cleanly and safely!
Several factors should be considered in determining the frequency of inspections.
The frequency of usage:Commercial facilities like laundromats, salons, spas usually have high volume of clothes and towels washed daily.
Location and routing of dryer vent: Longer vents that have more turns and angles tend to accumulate lint quicker that more direct and straight vents. The dryer duct vent hose should be as short in length as allowable based on the location of your dryer. It should also be as straight as possible; limit bends that may restricted airflow.
Type of dryer exhaust vent hose being used: Foil or vinyl dryer duct hose is NOT recommended. These hoses reduce the designed dryer duct diameter from 4” to 3 ¼”, increasing airflow friction. Lint build up occurs more rapidly in the folds and grooves of these types of vent hoses.
Aluminum flex vent hoses are specifically recommended by dryer manufacturers because of it fire retardant capabilities and because they maintain the 4” vent diameter. The smooth interior surface provides minimal airflow friction therefore, making it the most energy efficient option.
STATISTICS
Dryer fires are responsible for a significant number of damages, injuries, and deaths every year. There are approximately 15,600 structure fires, 400 injuries, and 15 deaths reported annually as a result of dryer fires. According to the United States Fire Administration, every year clothes dryer fires account for over $100 million in losses.
EXHAUST PIPES AND DRYER FIRES
A majority of dryer fires occur as a result of highly flammable lint getting caught in the dryer’s vents heating to the point of ignition. Although, most dryers come with lint traps or filters designed to capture lint, they fail to capture all of the lint and eventually an accumulation of this lint will occur inside the vent piping inside the wall that leads to the outside. Yet the assumption remains that emptying the filter regularly is enough to protect a dryer, but this assumption is not correct. Typically, a dryer vent needs cleaning every two to three years. Be aware, however, that it is recommended that the first vent cleaning for a dryer should be rechecked within a year to determine a reasonable frequency for follow-up cleaning.