By Jamie Wallace
Is your dryer running more slowly than
when it was brand new? Are your clothes damp
after running the dryer on high heat? Is there
a musty smell in your home when you run
your dryer? People who say yes to any of those
questions should probably have a clogged or
improperly installed dryer vent.
In older homes it was standard to have the
dryer on an exterior wall with the vent going
straight outside. This was a great setup that
caused little trouble. With newer construction
and more convenient laundry areas, dryer
vents can be found to be 15 to 40 feet or more
in length. This vent can be riddled with elbows
and bends that drastically slow the output of
air and create clogging spots.
If you have ever ignited lint you would realize
it is extremely flammable. Lint comes from
your clothes and gets combined with human
hair, pet hair, and other fi bers. While your dryer
dries your clothes, it also dries the lint which
becomes plastered to your dryer vent walls.
As the vent becomes more blocked, it causes
your dryer to overheat which increases the temperature
in the vent where it may ignite flammable lint.
your dryer is also one of the top energy users
in your home. The drying time of clothes can
be tripled when the dryer vent is dirty. This is
an excessive waste of money, energy, and time.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration
National Fire Data Center, clothes dryers annually
account for about 15,600 structure fires,
15 deaths and 300 injuries. The number one
reason in over 70 percent of all cases are due
to failure to clean the vent.
A quick review shows that having a dryer
vent cleaning will help:
• Reduce dryer fires.
• Lower your carbon monoxide levels for
gas dryers.
• Reduce moisture issues in your home.
• Save you money on your energy bill.
• Save you time.
In addition to having your vent regularly inspected,
some helpful tips are: Never leave your
home when your dryer is on. Always protect the
terminal of your dryer vent from animals. Always
clean your lint screen after every use. Replace any
vinyl connectors with aluminum fl ex connectors.
Make sure your vent, which passes through
walls, is rigid metal, not flex connector or PVC.
Check to see if your dryer isn’t too close to the
wall and crushing your vent.
Remember, preventative maintenance is key,
if you’re already experiencing problems then
you are gambling with your safety every time
you operate your dryer.
Wallace owns Saratoga Chimney Sweep,
run out of Wilton and serving Saratoga,
Washington and Warren counties.
Photo Courtesy Saratoga Chimney Sweep