In most homes today, a clothing dryer is a common appliance used on a regular basis. The vent of a dryer collects debris, fluff and hair that accumulates when the clothing spins around in the machine. It should be emptied after each load, but unfortunately, not everyone makes a habit of doing so. The debris can build up over time and even clog the dryer's vent. Believe it or not, thousands of home fires each year are started due to the dryer vent. When debris begins to clog the dryer vent, the exhaust gases produced by the dryer begin to back up and create a potential fire hazard. This can turn an otherwise helpful appliance into a disaster waiting to happen. Aside from the biggest risk of a home fire, clogged dryer vents can lead to short-circuiting and major electrical problems, overheating in the home and increased energy bills as the dryer has to work harder and harder with each spin cycle in order to dry clothes. In a nutshell, the biggest cause of a clogged dryer vent is a lack of maintenance.

It is impossible to escape the fact that as water evaporates in the dryer, lint with detach from the spinning clothes and become trapped in the vent. Along with emptying the smaller lint trap included with most modern dryers, homeowners need to be vigilant about checking the length of the exhaust vent on a regular basis, or approximately once each year even when no problems are apparent. Another major cause of clogged dryer vents is placing the dryer far from the exterior wall. This creates a longer vent to take hot air outside of the home, and a longer vent simply means more opportunities for a clog. Plus, a long and winding vent exhaust pipe can be crushed up against a wall when going around a corner, which leads to major blocks and potential buildup. In some cases, birds and animals can even create nests within the dryer vent, which is a major contributing factor to a big clog. One of the biggest reasons to clean a dryer vent is to increase the efficiency of the dryer itself. When a dryer's vent is partially blocked or even fully clogged, it has to work harder than ever to remove moisture from clothes, create heat and dry the items in the spin cycle.

Running a dryer for an extended period of time is a major waste of money, and it can add up quickly for a person's monthly utility bills. In addition, the extra heat generated by the dryer with extra use and overcompensation may result in higher temperatures throughout the house, especially if the exhaust vent pipe runs through more than one room before exiting the building. best hardwood floor cleaning mopsA higher indoor temperature means that during the summer, the air conditioning system has to work harder as well. couch cleaning machine rentalDryer vent clogs can therefore lead to a waste of valuable energy resources, making them a problem for an eco-friendly home as well as additional costs for energy each month for the homeowner.duct cleaning equipment suppliers uk

It is important to clean dryer vents before they get to the point where they could be a fire hazard. Some of the signs that a dryer vent needs to be cleaned include the following: Clothing comes out of the dryer much hotter than normalThe drying cycle takes longer, or clothes are damp after a normal cycleThe laundry room feels much hotter than normal The lint filter fills up quickly or appears unusualUtility bills rise without an explanation Clothes from the dryer take on a musty smellDryer sheets smell odd or break down more than usual during the cyclequality air duct cleaning llc All of the signs listed above signify that a dryer vent absolutely needs to be cleaned. vacuum cleaners best suction powerMany homeowners opt to clean their dryer vents themselves, which can be done by unplugging the dryer from the wall outlet, removing the vent exhaust pipe from the dryer, vacuuming or pulling out debris from both the dryer and pipe, visually inspecting the interior of the vent pipe and checking the exterior of the home for any blockages where the exhaust vents outside. best way to clean wood parquet floors

However, this can be a time consuming process, and it is not always effective. A better idea may be to call a professional. Rather than just calling a handyman, it is worth looking for a dryer exhaust technician that is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. These professionals are familiar with the biggest fire risks and can help you prevent clogs as well as eliminate any existing ones. On average, a professional dryer vent cleaning will cost anywhere from $90 to $160, depending on the severity of the clog. Thankfully, there are several steps that homeowners can take to prevent debris from ever clogging the dryer vent in the first place. Instead of relying on dryer sheets for each load of laundry, opting for a liquid fabric softener can help to reduce the amount of debris created with each cycle. Instead of running the dryer for multiple cycles in a row when doing laundry, aim to let the dryer cool down for at least 15 to 20 minutes before loading it back up and turning it on for another cycle.

If clogged dryer vents are a consistent problem, moving the dryer to back up against an external wall or replacing a flexible vent pipe with a solid metal pipe can help to eliminate potential clogs in the future. Help us improve this article Was this page helpful? 5 - Extremely Helpful 4 - Very Helpful 2 - Somewhat Helpful 1 - Not Helpful How Much Does Dryer Vent Cleaning Cost?Call for an Estimate Dryer Vent Cleaning Quick Facts The US Fire Administration Reports there are more than 12,700 clothes dryer fires annually, resulting in 15 deaths, 300 injuries and $88 million in property loss each year. “Failure to clean” is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. A clear dryer vent can improve energy efficiency, allow clothes to dry more quickly, and lower utility costs. Sears technicians clean both the inside and outside portions of the vent. What Causes a Clogged Dryer Vent? Dryer vents clog when enough lint accumulates in your ventilation system to cause a blockage.

Dryer vents can clog in a variety of ways. For one, a lengthy distance on a dryer ventilation system increases the likelihood of bends and curves in the system, where lint is most likely to collect. Second, dryer ventilation tubes are made from pliable plastic or foil, which can be easily crushed or dented given enough pressure. Finally, a poorly connected ventilation or dryer vent screen can cause lint to trap. Some ventilation screens serve to prevent animals from accessing the ventilation, but these screens can also create a barrier for lint. Why Clean Your Clothes Dryer Vent? When lint builds in your dryer vent, it blocks the flow of air from the dryer to the outdoor vent, creating tremendous levels of heat that could lead to a fire. This heat can cause highly flammable particles like lint and clothing to catch fire. By having your dryer vent cleared of any lint or debris, you lessen the likelihood of a fire occurring due to a blocked fire vent. Dryer Efficiency & Energy Savings

When a dryer cannot ventilate properly, it will negatively affect your home’s energy efficiency, the integrity of your clothing, and the operation of the dryer itself. A clogged dryer vent can affect the levels of heat the dryer uses to dry clothes. If clothing is subjected to extreme heat, your clothes, especially your delicates, can be ruined by the higher temperature. Additionally, if the mechanisms of your dryer are subjected to high heat over a prolonged period of time, those mechanisms could fail long before your dryer has reached the end of its service life. By ensuring that your dryer vents remain clear, you safeguard your clothing from damaging high heat and keep your dryer working as it should. Indoor air quality is an important factor to respiratory health. A clogged dryer vent could negatively impact the indoor air quality of your home if not allowed to ventilate properly. If you have a gas dryer, a clogged dryer vent could cause the release of carbon monoxide. Because ventilation systems tend to run through a lengthy portion of the home, that monoxide leak could place several areas of your home at risk.

Call the Professionals at Sears to Have Your Dryer Vent Cleaned Cleaning dryer vents effectively requires powerful vacuum equipment that can dislodge and consume any lint that has become clogged in your vent. Sears professionals are trained in the use of this equipment and on how to inspect dryer vents for signs of damage or clogging. Once on the job, our technicians will inspect your vents for problem spots like elbows, crevices, bends, and long vents, where clogs tend to occur. After using our powerful equipment to remove such clogs, your dryer and dryer vents will operate properly without putting the safety of your home at risk. See all verified customer reviews we paid $189 for the dryer vent cleaning but if we had gotten the full duct cleaning for $99, that would have included the dryer vent. Adil is a true professional and I was happy he did most of the Dryer vent cleaning work, while Joe looked on. I would definitely love to have Adil back again in a few years to do both our Dryer vent and Air Duct cleaning.

I had an appointment to make and he was able to get everything done in no time. We hadn't had our dryer vent cleaned in 8 years. We thought it was changed with our new washer and dryer but it wasn't. Justin was able to clean immediately. We will be sure to use Sears next year. it was a dryer vent cleaning, not air duct, but the techs (Dennis and Lance) were great. I did not have air duct cleaning I had a dryer vent cleaning. I was very satisfied. My dryer is working fine now. I appreciated that Sears came the next day after my phone call. That was very important to me. I would definitely use Sears again. I have scheduled carpet cleaning because of the prompt and wonderful service. I did not answer other questions because i did not have air duct cleaning. It would be nice if the prices are a bit lower. In groupon and living social sites, there are many companies offering specials 1/5 of Sears prices including the dryer vent. Total cost for my house including the dryer vents was $243 where as clean duct pro is offering $59.

However I do enjoy the services I received. The workers were cordial, friendly and courteous. Professional and friendly crew. First time I've ever wanted to keep a service person's name and ask for that crew personally! Not only cleaned our dryer vent duct to my satisfaction, but showed me what was going on and explained things as they went. The technician was on time YEA! He took time to explain what he found and gave me helpful information for keeping my dryer vents clean and my appliances working properly. I had my dryer vent cleaned, they were professional and friendly and called before they arrived. The gentlemen that came to my house to clean my dryer vents were very nice & professional. They did a very good job & I was impressed on how well they did the job. I would give them an A+ rating. The three technicians that came to my home to clean my airducts and dryer vent were professional, courteous, and timely. Service tech provided a check of my ultraviolet light in the air cooling vent and turned it on.

I appreciated the technical explanations for how often I should get the dryer vents cleaned and the replacement of the vent to dry connection with a flexible hose. Thank you, I feel much safer now that my dryer vents have been cleaned out! Gentlemen were polite and conscientious about the work being done. They did the task with little mess, if any, and tested to make certain that it was better than when they arrived. I would recommend them to anyone for dryer vent cleaning. This was for dryer vent cleaning but I was very satisfied. Arnold, Darryl, and Adolfo were exceedingly profession, courteous, and knowledgeable. They treated my home with care, and all 3 worked together as a team. The 3 of them can return in a year to clean the dryer vent. Thank you for emptying such great and qualified people! Our tech said the dryer vents did not seem that clogged to him, but the cleaning has made a huge difference in dryer performance, so we are quite satisfied. He also recommended that we get a Lint Lizard to clean lint from the inside of the dryer, and we have ordered one.

Wouldn't have known about that otherwise. So we are very satisfied. Both of the young men that serviced our house were really patient and courteous. I had made a mistake in not knowing how many vents we actually had, which made their job longer and harder, and they were rained on, while cleaning out the dryer vent, and still had a positive disposition. They also understood the equipment, keeping things clean protected from the vacuum hose, and were helpful in explaining to me why one of the units needed to be cleaned off. It's nice to have knowlegeable people who work hard, care about the customers and do a good job. One was name Logan, and the other, I can't remember, he had dark hair, and brown eyes. Both of them helped me round up my escaped dog! Travis and his team of three came to clean my air duck, dryer vent and the furnace. And they did a fantastic job on cleaning the job. They kept everything tidy and clean. I will use them again. I found lint under the dryer vent inside the dryer so I'm not sure if they actually cleaned inside the actual dryer.

Do they just clean from outside and not inside the dryer? I thought the dryer vent cleaning would cover inside dryer as well as the hose connecting the dryer to outside. The two men who came out to clean out my dryer vent were very pleasant and professional. I was very satisfied with the service they gave. They were very professional and answered my questions. They were knowledgeable and did a very good job. Two men came to clean out my dryer vent which really needed it. There are 3 mens names on my invoice so I am not sure what the names of the guys who came out were but I'm sure you can look that up, they were very very good at what they did, and very professional. Thank You, Jean M Schaffer Just wanted to note that I had my dryer vent cleaned not air ducts. Jose worked efficiently and was extremely thorough when cleaning my air ducts, furnace filter and dryer vent. He showed me pictures of before and after of the furnace filter cleaning and took the time to explain what the effects of an inefficient filter.