Many home clothes dryer fires are caused by not cleaning the fabric dust filter. The reason is that the dust that accumulates in the filter for a long time prevents air circulation, but the air in the dryer is hot. 

If it is not circulated but accumulates in the machine, it will generate high heat. , which greatly affects the engine and electrical tools inside the machine.

So how often should you clean your dryer vent to prevent tragedies from happening to your family? 

Let’s find out the “how often should you clean your dryer vent” with Hurricane LLC through the article to ensure safety for use and prolong the dryer’s life for your family.

Why Clean Your Dryer Vent?

One of those things that we often take for granted is a dryer. This generally happens when we have a large load of drenched towels that need to be dried right away. 

But a little yearly maintenance may go a long way in keeping your dryer in good shape and prolonging its life. When a dryer is clogged, it has to work harder, which shortens its lifespan.

For the sake of your family’s safety as well as your own, you should also clean the dryer vent.

Highly flammable lint is produced and accumulated by dryers. The main cause of dryer fires is neglecting to periodically clean the lint out of the machine.

Signs That the Vent in Your Dryer Needs Cleaning

Drying Period

It takes your garments a long time to dry or doesn’t dry at all is likely the strongest indication that your dryer vent needs to be cleaned.

Your dryer’s efficiency will decline when lint blocks the airflow in the dryer duct, and ultimately it won’t dry your clothing at all.

Sluggish Airflow

Homeowners should make it a practice to monitor the airflow regularly. Simply turn on your dryer, and then check the airflow at the lid of the outer vent. Of course, you may be unable to repair it yourself if your dryer vent runs to the roof.

However, if the air movement is poor or nonexistent, you know that your dryer vent needs to be cleaned.

Additionally, if you know the ideal airflow (for instance, after dryer vent cleaning), you may compare the weaker airflow to the ideal one.

If cleaning doesn’t improve the airflow, the duct may be clogged by a hard-to-remove obstruction, a bird’s nest, or it may even be severed within the wall.

Burning Odor

Turn off your dryer right away if you ever notice any strange smells coming from it, such as a burned scent, and make an appointment for a professional cleaning.

My comprehensive article about dryer burning odors is available here.

A lint blockage that is smoldering within the duct is often the cause of a burning smell.

Due to lint’s great flammability, the heat from the dryer may set it ablaze if it clogs a dryer vent. I’ve been in homes where dryer duct fires occurred, and dryer vent obstructions are a common cause of fires in the US.

Dryer Heats a Lot

The dryer and the drum might sometimes get hot to the touch if the dryer vent is filthy.

This is because there is so much lint in the dryer duct that it restricts air movement and makes it harder for heat from the dryer to escape outside.

How Often Should You Have Your Dryer Vents Cleaned?

Experts recommend cleaning the dryer vent at least once a year and the lint trap vent after each load. The dryer vent should be cleaned more often, however, if:

Size Of Family

A big family size necessitates washing more loads of laundry each day. The quantity of lint in the dryer increases with how often you use it daily. As a result, it requires cleaning multiple times a year.

Pets

If you have pets, the vents in your home will clog up more rapidly than in houses without dogs. Therefore, it’s important to regularly clean the dryer to get pet hair and fur out of the vent.

How Often Do You Buy New Clothes?

According to research, new garments generate more lint than used ones. So, if you routinely purchase new clothing, you should clean your dryer vents frequently.

Laundry Kind

Larger, bulkier materials like blankets and towels create more lint, rapidly clogs the dryer vent. Therefore, you must clean your dryer vent multiple times a year if most of your laundry is heavy.

What Does A Complete Dryer Vent Cleaning Include?

Cleaning the dryer vents involves more than simply clearing the filter of debris. Numerous other items need inspection and cleaning.

Below is a detailed explanation of the steps involved in a thorough dryer vent cleaning.

• Step 1: Examine the dryer vent hole. To do this, go outdoors and carefully examine the dryer vent.
• Step 2: Eliminating barriers the exterior is thoroughly cleaned of any dirt, debris, leaves, and animal feces that have gathered there and impeded the passage of lint.
• Step 3: Cleaning up the lint and other debris on the dryer vent.
• Step 4: Clean the space underneath the dryer.
• Step 5: Thoroughly clean the dryer’s lint trap and drum to complete the process.

Possible Downsides Of Cleaning Dryer Vent

Removal Of The Dryer Vent Cleaner

The potential for the dryer vent cleaning instrument to get caught within the duct is a typical disadvantage of this procedure.

This is more of a worry for DIY or home gear than professional dryer vent cleaning equipment.

The dryer vent cleaning equipment that may be made at home is made of plastic rods that are joined together and have brushes attached to the ends.

Unfortunately, these inexpensive home dryer vent cleaning equipment typically disintegrate within the dryer duct, making removal difficult.

You’ll probably need to contact a contractor if it breaks apart in the dryer duct so that you can attempt to collect it.

Very Long Duct With Several Bends

In rare instances, cleaning a dryer vent could not make a difference if the duct is bad.

A dryer vent cleaning could not make a difference in drying times if your dryer duct is longer than 20 feet and contains multiple 90-degree bends.

You may want to think about moving your dryer duct to a new position if you still aren’t receiving the performance you expect from your dryer after cleaning the dryer vent (and the airflow is still poor).

Conclusion

To put it briefly, the dryer must be cleaned at least once a year. In addition, you should consider the size of your family, the presence of pets, the kind of laundry you do, and how often you buy new garments when determining how long you should adequately clean.

Hopefully, the information in this post has given you some tips on keeping your clothes dryer clean and in excellent working order. Don’t forget to check Hurricane LLC Dryer Vent Service often for updated, informative articles about clothing and house maintenance.