Residential Dryer Vent Cleaning
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Dryer Fires Are A Real Danger!
According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), from 2010 – 2014, there were 14,692 dryer fires that were attended to by fire departments. As a result of those fires, there were 13 civilian deaths, 444 civilian injuries and $238 million in direct property damage.
The leading items first ignited in dryer fires were dust, fiber or lint. The number one reason for the dryer fires was a lack of cleaning the lint from the dryer and the dryer vent line.
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Fire Marshal Was Shocked!
Very Dirty Roof Vent
Lint Screens Are Trouble!
Supreme Dryer Vent Cleaning techs frequently get calls from customers who are having dryer issues where the clothes are not being dried and they don’t understand it because it is a new house and new dryer, the first thing that comes to our mind is a vent cover screen is causing the issue.
In most of those cases, it is a screen that comes with the vent cover, if on the roof, and if it vents out the side of the house it is typically the wrong type of vent cover to use with a clothes dryer.
When it is a screen, we remove it and when we clean the vent line we find very little lint. It doesn’t take much lint to plug the screen and prevent the air from flowing. Once it is removed and the vent line cleaned we verify the air flow with our tester and the customer is good to go.
If you suspect that might be the case with your dryer setup, call the best dryer vent cleaners in Des Moines to take care of the issue.
Clean The Back Of The Dryer!
While cleaning the dryer vent line is a great thing to do on an annual basis, don’t forget to clean the transition tube and the back of the dryer as well. As you can see from the video above, this dryer was compltely clogged with lint.
Many dryer vent cleaning companies only clean the dryer vent line from the outside and then they don’t have air flow testers to make sure the air is flowing properly. That’s why Supreme Dryer Vent Cleaning is known as the best air duct cleaners in Des Moines and the surrounding area.
We clean from the outside but then we go in the house and we take the transition tube off and make sure it’s clean. Then we check inside the back of the dryer to make sure there is no blockage.
Once everything is clean, we reassemble the transition tube and test the airflow with our tester. And of course we make sure it has great air flow!
Birds seem to be the worst enemy of dryer vent lines. They love to make their homes (nests) inside the dryer vent lines because of the warm air flow. The problem is they make a lot of noise and the nest blocks the air flow.
For a long time, the only solution was a bulky cage that was attached to the exterior wall, covering the entire vent cover. Not only are they unattractive, they catch lint and get plugged.
Supreme Dryer Vent Cleaning uses the vent covers you see in the photo above. Birds can NOT get in these vent covers! They have a tiny little magnet that helps keep it closed when the dryer is turned off and then it opens freely when the dryer turns on. You can tell by the design that there is nothing to capture the lint.
Call Supreme for your dryer vent cleaning needs.
Home Inspectors & Dryer Vents
What do home inspectors look for when inspecting clothes dryers?
I can’t speak for all home inspectors but the few that I have visited with have shared with me what they look for when examining dryers and dryer vent lines. Here are some common items:
- Is the transition tube behind the dryer the proper length, in good condition and hooked up to the dryer and the elbow or pipe in the wall securely? Is it pinched off because the dryer has been pushed too far back to the wall?
- Is the dryer vent line cap at the exterior point of exhaust in good condition? Does the flap or flaps close all the way? Is there a screen or any other item(s) that can trap the lint and prevent the dryer air from exhausting properly?
- Is the air flow at the proper level? In other words, Is the airflow unobstructed by lint or faulty dryer vent exhausting material?
Dryer Vent Line Code
We go to many homes and apartments for dryer vent cleaning in Des Moines and the metro area and to honest with you, there are more dryer vent lines than not that are not up to code. According to the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC), there are codes that need to be followed when it comes to dryer vent lines. With that said, it’s important to check with your local area or city codes as they would supersede the IRC. Here are the IRC codes:
- Clothes dryers must have their own exhaust vent to the outside of the building. You can NOT connect a dryer vent line with any other appliance or ventilation device. You can NOT exhaust two dryers with the same line.
- The clothes dryer vent must exhaust outdoors and not into the house, garage or attic.
- Exterior vents must be at least 3 feet away from and door or window.
- The dryer vent line needs to be constructed with smooth, metal pipe that is at least 4 inches in diameter. Do NOT use screws longer than ¼ inch to fasten pipe pieces together. Use steel tape.
- Dryer vent lines need to be supported with support straps at 12-foot intervals.
- The transition tube (the tube that hooks the dryer up to the vent line) can not be any longer than 8 feet.
- The maximum length of the dryer vent line is 35 feet with every 45 degree elbow taking away 2.5 feet and every 90 degree elbow taking away 5 feet.