Dryers produce large amounts of lint. Most people assume their lint traps catch it all, but a lot of it ends up in the dryer vent and on the heating element. Lint is highly flammable. Keeping up with your dryer preventive maintenance helps reduce fire risk. This includes cleaning the dryer vent, lint filter, and outdoor vent. Supreme Air Duct Cleaning provides excellent dryer vent cleaning services. Give Supreme Air Duct Cleaning a call for a quote on dryer vent cleaning in Ankeny.
Clean the Lint Trap
The lint trap is the first line of defense when it comes to preventing dryer fires. You should be sure to clean it after every load of laundry and make it a habit. Set a reminder on your phone or make a note in your calendar to help you remember this important task.
If you’ve been diligent about cleaning your lint trap, but still notice your clothes taking longer to dry, or if you can smell smoke coming from your dryer, it might be time to clean out the entire vent. This is a more involved task than simply cleaning the screen and lint trap, but it’s important to perform regularly to keep your dryer running efficiently and to reduce the risk of house fires caused by clogged dryer vents.
After you’ve cleaned the lint trap, it’s important to remember that your dryer vent system is full of ducting and transitional sections. The ducting that runs from the wall behind your dryer to the exterior vent outside of your home is the number one cause of home dryer fires, and it’s vital to clean this section regularly as well. It is not recommended to clean it out yourself. Hire Supreme Air Duct Cleaning to perform this task. At Supreme Air Duct Cleaning in Ankeny, we have knowledgeable technicians that have professional equipment to clean out the dryer vent line from the outside of your home.
If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned your ducts, or if it’s been a while since they were professionally cleaned, contact a top-rated professional like Supreme Air Duct Cleaning. We can remove the clogs with special tools and then thoroughly clean your entire vent system, improving your dryer’s efficiency and reducing your risk of house fires caused by clogged vents. In addition, Supreme can ensure that your lint trap and transition ducts are properly installed to prevent leaks, which could also lead to house fires. Give Supreme Air Duct Cleaning a call for any inquiries about dryer vent cleaning services and/or repairs.
Transition Duct Repair
While most lint collected in the lint trap is blown out of the dryer during the drying cycle, some can accumulate in hotter parts of the machine. This lint, which is highly flammable, can ignite and burn throughout the entire dryer and vent system. A clean lint trap isn’t just for safety: it can also help speed up the dryer’s cycle, saving money and energy. You should clean the lint trap before or after every load of laundry.
The transition duct is the metal or plastic tubing that carries exhaust air from your dryer to outside, where it should exit your house through an exterior wall. Keeping this duct clean is just as important as cleaning your lint trap. In fact, dryer vents that aren’t properly cleaned or maintained are the cause of hundreds of home fires every year. They always should not be pushed up against the wall. A lot of ducts are put in, fast & incorrectly. Supreme Air Duct Cleaning Ankeny offers inspections around the back of the dryer to see if you need a new installation of the transition duct. If there is any bend in the duct, this can restrict air flow causing lint buildup and clothes to not dry properly.
Depending on your dryer’s location and how often you use it, you should aim to clear out the duct at least once a year. If your clothes seem to be taking longer than usual to dry, or if you notice a burning smell, it’s especially important to clear the duct out immediately.
You should also check the vent outside to ensure it is not obstructed. If it is, you can remove the obstructed part of the vent and replace it with a new one. A lot of our customers tend to have the wrong type of dryer vent cover on the outside vent which causes the lint to buildup in the first place. Supreme Air Duct Cleaning will provide you with options of different vent covers that best suits your needs and expenses. We do not force you to buy our products, but we do provide you with information regarding the vent covers and you can make a decision on the spot or later down the road.
Dryer Fire
Dryer fires are surprisingly common, and most of the time they’re completely preventable. A lot of the time, a fire starts in the dryer vent because it’s not cleaned regularly, or because the duct is blocked with debris or clogged with dust and lint. That’s why the best thing you can do to protect your home is to keep up with this important maintenance task.
While advice varies, most professionals recommend cleaning your dryer duct at least twice a year. That might seem like a big chore, but it’s well worth the effort. This process makes sure that your machine can expel all the heat and moisture it generates efficiently, without overheating the surrounding area. It also ensures that the airflow between your dryer and the great outdoors is free of lint, fiber and other debris that can spark fires. The vast majority of fires (92%) involved clothes dryers according to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association).
When a dryer fire breaks out, the situation is more dangerous than it sounds. The fire may be spreading quickly, and the fumes from the flaming lint are highly toxic. If possible, evacuate the area to a safe place outside your home. If you can’t do that, shut off the power to your dryer by switching it off at its wall outlet — but don’t open the dryer door! It’s too hot to handle, and opening the door could expose you to carbon monoxide or a deadly fire.
Lint fires are caused by a combination of factors, including electrical issues and mechanical failures. However, the leading cause of dryer fires is a buildup of flammable lint. The tiny fabric fibers that make up your clothes break free during the drying process, and some of them escape from your dryer’s lint trap into its exhaust system and dryer vent. This lint is highly flammable, and when it builds up inside the ducts, it can restrict the flow of air, making your dryer run at higher temperatures and potentially igniting the lint.
Cleaning out your lint trap and having your dryer vent cleaned are important preventative measures, but it’s also essential to have your transition ducts repaired periodically. These ducts, which connect your dryer to the vent, are often made of materials that can easily catch fire or become flammable in the heat, such as aluminum foil or plastic ducting. In 2014-2018, local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 13,820 home structure fires per year in which dryers were involved in the ignition. These fires caused an average of seven civilian deaths, 344 civilian injuries, and $233 million in direct property damage annually.
Summary
If you can’t afford to have your dryer vents cleaned out or transition ducts replaced, consider having them professionally inspected and cleaned at least once every two years. A professional can also determine whether your ducts are adequately sized and can help you choose the right size for your needs.
You can also reduce the risk of a dryer fire by not using your dryer for items that are too large, or by drying those items outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Never use your dryer while you’re away from home or asleep, and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for operation. Finally, be sure to have your homeowner’s insurance coverage updated regularly. Consider having a dryer vent cleaning company like Supreme Air Duct Cleaning Ankeny clean out your vent line. Give us a call or visit our website for a free quote. We offer before & after pictures of our work and the service is completed is guaranteed. If you are not happy, you don’t pay.