In this blog entry, the professional Chicago air duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning experts here at EmDuct will answer. Some of the most frequently asked questions that our expert HVAC system and ductwork system cleaning team get asked regarding our professional dryer vent cleaning services.
What are some signs that I need professional dryer vent cleaning?
- If your dryer takes more than a single cycle to dry your clothes
- If your clothes are hot after a single cycle of drying
- If your dryer is hot to the touch when operating
- If there’s a ton of lint around the dryer and behind the dryer
- If yoru laundry room si very warm or humid when the dryer is in operation
- If there’s musty smelling clothes in the dryer
- If there’s a ton of time necessary to dry a load of clothing
Is it really important to get dryer vents cleaned?
Absolutely. Dryer vent fires are one of the main causes of fires in homes in America. Nearly 15,000 fires caused by drier issues occur every single year. These fires have caused over $100 million in damages, not to mention the serious danger they post to your safety and the safety of your family. It is absolutely necessary to have every single kind of dryer vent, cleaned at least once a year in order to maintain the safety of your property.
What exactly are dryer vents?
There’s many misunderstandings about what a dryer vent is. Many people believe that the dryer vent is actually the lint trap that Hass to get cleaned out every time the dryer is used. This is not the case. The dryer vent is actually a tube located behind your dryer that connects the dryer device to the wall near it. This tube runs as long as it needs to in order to exit your home through a vent hood that’s usually located on the side wall or even on the roof.
Why do clothes take so long to dry sometimes? Do I need to get a new dryer?
The answer to this is complicated. Sometimes the issue was caused by your dryer. If your dryer is heating up and your clothing is not getting dry and a normal amount of time- which is usually 45 minutes for a standard load of laundry – you probably need to get your dryer vents cleaned. Clog dryer, vents block, Hadar, and moisture from escaping your dryer, which in turn prevents clothing from drying. Every month we get many calls from different dryer repair man who have responded to calls about broken dryers only after finding that the issue was actually with the dryer vent itself. Sometimes we even got a call from people who just purchased a new dryer thinking that they are dryer was worn out, only to find the new dryer doesn’t also work simply because they’re dryer vent is clogged or broken.
When should I get my dryer vent cleaned?
We recommend getting your dryer vent, professionally inspected and cleaned on an annual basis, at least. Make sure to have your driver Kent vent cleaned at the very least once a year. The real amount of time between your dryer vent cleaning should actually range based on the number of different factors, including:
- The specific age of your dryer – if the dryer is over 10 years old, it might need to get cleaned more often than that.
- Whether your dryer vent has many different, also known as elbows, that can collect lint – rather than being simply in a straight line
- Usually full-size drivers have better amount of flow than stackable or compact dryers
- If you’re using your dryer very often, it will need to be cleaned very often
- Dryer vents that are shorter than 5 feet. Don’t usually need to get cleaned as often as dryer vents that have a length of more than 15 feet or 15 feet. Basically, the longer the dryer vent is, the more lint will build up inside it
Is it OK to have plastic tubing as a dryer vent?
Absolutely not. Dryer vents really have to be created out of solid metal ducts, need to have zero screws that hold the tubing together, and should have the proper type of metal tape securing the joints together. Plastic dryer vents are actually a very serious and dangerous, fire hazard, and should be replaced with metal ducting as soon as possible.
Can I save money on my gas or electric bill by getting my dryer vent cleaned more regularly?
Yes. Dryers are very expensive appliances to operate when it comes to electricity bills. By cleaning your dryer vent on a regular basis, you can save a lot of money per month on your utility bill, usually $20 monthly.
Can I clean my own dryer vent?
Sometimes. If your dryer vent is 4 feet or shorter than that, you might be able to clean it yourself using a special kits sold at home improvement, stores. However, these kids don’t really provide such great results. In fact, many people spent hours trying to get them to work only to cause serious damage to the dryer vents. We recommend contacting us, the professional fryer vent cleaning team here at EmDuct for truly professional service.
Why should I contact EmDuct for my dryer vent cleaning services?
Our team is comprised of highly experienced and trained professionals who specialize in cleaning or dryer vents. Our technicians will provide you prompt, rapid, arrival, and very honest services, as well as customer recommendations for your home, safety, and, of course, budgetary requirements. We have received excellent reviews throughout the Chicago area, representing our commitment to providing the very best in ductwork cleaning services in the state of Illinois.