Dryer Vent Fires and Regular Maintenance

Dryer vent fires have been ranked the top cause of household fire accidents in the United States, outdoing chimney fires. Dryer vents are among the hidden stuff that people often ignore when it comes to cleaning and maintaining appliances around the home. It is important to clean the lint trap at least once every dry cycle and even more if you dry a lot of clothes on any given day. This is the only way to avoid costly maintenance repairs as well as preventing fire accidents. Additionally, it is a way to ensure your appliances last long. Air flow is limited, your drier works more difficult and the motor over heats. With excessive heat on the lint, your drier becomes a right candidate for a drier fire which will spread to the house fast.


Dryer Care and Assessment Tips

• First of all it is important to ensure that the lint trap is not ripped at all and it should be cleaned in advance of each drying cycle. In any case if you notice that the lint trap is wet it means the dryer vents are clogged and must therefore be stopped and cleaned by a professional. The lint screen is another term for lint trap and requires cleaning at least once on the day you are drying clothes.
• It is important to carry out external visual inspection of the dryer exhaust vent while the dryer is working. You should see the flaps moving and feel the air flow. If the dryer has no airflow or the flaps are not moving, then it is time to have the dryer exhaust cleaned. If installed correctly, the exhaust vent is found outdoors.
• Conduct a lint inspection. Scrutinize around your drier for lint on the ground. It is a warning signal that the dryer exhaust should be cleaned. If the lint is damp in your lint trap, it could imply that it's time for you to clear your dryer ducts.
• If at any time the clothes call for many drying cycles, you basically have to work on the dryer exhaust.
• Finally, clothes soaked n flammable fabric conditioners or detergents must never be dried on a drier, because it can trigger an explosive scenario in your drier.

 Dryer Vent Repairs

Medically, prevention is better than cure and the saying applies here as well. It is cheaper to maintain your dryer than to buy a new home after a fire accident. The best way to have the dryer vent cleaned is to seek professional personnel. Generally, they are called duct cleaners and they are skilled and will ensure your system is running smoothly and efficiently. Although you can do it the cleaning, it is important to call an experienced dryer mechanic. A few of the fixes which could be desired might contain: repairing or altering the dryer vent exhaust ductwork, including the altering a port hood, clean-up in the furthest part of the run, beginning from where the duct leaves the clothes dryer and on towards the exterior wall. We are prepared to tear into the wall or ceiling to fix a clogged duct, or one that's come free. We will do whatever it takes to keep you and your family safe.

It's important to remember tha in order to avoid dryer vent fires in your house, get your dryer exhaust cleaned once annually. If you reside in a condo complex be sure that your property manager understands the need for drier vent cleaning and maintenance. Apartment owners also needs to make clothes dryer vent cleaning within their units a top priority to keep their tennants safe.