There’s one item you definitely don’t want to leave off your spring cleaning checklist – your dryer vent.
You may think your dryer vent is clean because you empty lint after each load of laundry, but tiny bits of dryer lint sneak through the lint trap and build up inside your dryer vent over time.
Why do these tiny bits of lint matter? Safety, safety, safety! Lint is extremely flammable. This accumulated lint reduces air flow to the dryer’s hot air vent, causing the appliance to operate at increasingly high temperatures, creating a serious fire hazard.
Dryer fires are surprisingly common. A single spark can set ablaze at a moment’s notice, and the fire can quickly spread from the laundry room to the rest of your home.
Fortunately, dryer fires are preventable.
Lint Trap vs. Dryer Vent – What’s the Difference?
The confusion typically lies in the difference between your lint trap and your dryer vent.
Yes, they are two different things and yes, they should be cleaned differently.
To put it simply, the lint trap is that thing your mother always bugged you about cleaning out. It’s the easily-accessible tray that you clean out after every load of laundry – the lint you can see.
The dryer vent is located behind the dryer and its purpose is to exhaust the heat from your dryer to the outside of your home. During a dryer cycle, lint can sneak past your lint trap and get caught in the dryer vent causing build-ups – the lint you can’t see.
More Than Safety
While safety is the number one reason to have your dryer vent cleaned, it’s not the only reason. Lint build-up is not only dangerous, but it’s also expensive and annoying.
Having your dryer vent cleaned will:
1. Save you time
Last minute laundry - we’ve all done it. Whether it’s staring at the dryer waiting for your kid’s soccer jersey to dry so you’re not late for the game or waiting for your favourite pair of jeans before a night out, dryer times can really affect your day.
That’s why having your dryer vent cleaned is important. A clean dryer vent decreases wait times and makes your life easier. Lint build-up in dryer vents causes laundry to dry slower and takes up more of your time; having your dryer vent cleaned improves the efficiency of your dryer and makes your clothes dry in less time.
2. Save you money
With less efficiency and longer drying times comes higher energy bills. When there is a build-up in your dryer vent, there is not enough hot air reaching your dryer and therefore more energy is spent trying to dry your clothes. Sometimes it can even take multiple cycles.
Having your dryer vent cleaned means you spend less money on energy bills and simply drying your clothes, and more on what you want.
3. Help your dryer last longer
Like many things in life, your dryer will work better if it’s properly cared for. Having your dryer vent cleaned is not only proper care, but it will also increase its lifespan and reduce repair costs.
If your dryer is working longer and harder to get a load of laundry done, its lifespan shortens. An overworked dryer puts a lot of wear and tear on the appliance, resulting in more frequent breakdowns and problems.
Should I Clean My Own Dryer Vent?
Some stores sell vacuum cleaner attachments that claim to be a DIY solution to dryer vent cleaning. They’re not.
There’s a reason why our technicians use a specially-designed, truck-mounted vacuum system for duct and dryer vent cleaning - an ordinary vacuum simply does not reach far enough or use enough force to give your dryer vent a thorough cleaning.
And that’s not just marketing from dryer vent cleaning companies! Some things just aren’t meant to be a DIY project, and dryer vent cleaning is one of them. It’s a matter of fire safety, your time and your money.
How Often Do I Need to Have My Dryer Vent Cleaned?
Having your dryer vents cleaned professionally is the only way to ensure your vents are clear of flammable lint. Dryer vents should be cleaned at least once a year.
The best way to remember? Pair it with your duct cleaning! When we provide our professional duct cleaning service, our technicians can also clear your dryer vents of accumulated lint – one less thing on your to-do list!
