Serving Ocean & Monmouth Counties Phone: 732-244-2880

Archive for November, 2019



When to clean your dryer vent

Posted on: November 1st, 2019 by admin

A clogged dryer vent is a very dangerous thing for a home.  It reduces the effectiveness of the dryer, causes the dryer to work harder than it should, uses more energy than is necessary and is the cause of many home fires.  It is recommended to clean your dryer vent out at least once a year depending on type and amount of use.  If you cannot remember the last time you had the tubing that runs off of your dryer cleaned, it’s time to have it done.

A dust-filled dryer vent greatly diminishes the ability of the dryer to do its job efficiently.  If you find that it is taking you more than one cycle to dry your laundry, you may want to check the dryer vent and ductwork.  It is very possible that it is because the ductwork is filled with lint.  When air cannot freely pass through the tubing meant to vent the air to the outside, it affects the performance of the dryer.

A blocked-up dryer vent also forces the dryer to work much harder than it normally does or should.  This requires a much larger amount of energy.  So not ensuring your dryer vent and ductwork are clean is costing you money each time you have to run your dryer.

Most importantly, not maintaining the cleanliness of your dryer vent and ductwork appropriately is putting your home at risk.  Dryer fires are one of the most common causes of house fires and the most frequent cause of these fires is lint buildup in the venting.  Some things to watch out for that would indicate clogged dryer ductwork are:

  • dryer cleaning trhacA musty odor on your laundry when you remove it from the dryer – this indicates that the tubing is filled with lint and air is unable to vent properly leading to wet lint in the vent which distributes itself onto your laundry because it is unable to be released to the outside.
  • The room which holds your dryer gets very warm when you run your dryer – when a dryer has to work harder to do its job, it produces a lot of heat. While a properly functioning dryer does produce some heat, if you notice your laundry room is inexplicably hot when you run your dryer, it is a red flag to have your dryer vent checked.
  • The vent hood does not open when the dryer is running – this is on the outside of your house and should open when the dryer is on to allow the air to escape. When air is not passing through the ductwork properly, there is not enough force to open the hood.
  • Laundry is extremely hot to the touch – when the warm air from your dryer is not able to be directed outside due to a blocked dryer vent, your loads of laundry will retain much more heat than normal.

These are just a few things to keep an eye out for that indicate it is time to have your dryer vent work cleaned, but there are many others.  If it has been over a year since you’ve cleaned out the ductwork attached to your dryer, it is time to have it done.  If you simply don’t know if you’ve ever had your dryer vent and ductwork cleaned, it’s time.  If you notice any of the above signs or are having issues with your dryer, it is very likely not a mechanical issue, but instead, it may be time to clean your dryer vent.  Check your dryer vent today and protect your home from the possibility of fire.