The Best Dryer Vent Cleaning in Nashville, TN
Bee A Healthy Homes service includes, cleaning dryers inside lint chamber, flex adapter and whole vent pipe brushed blown and vacuumed, leaving no mess.
Dryer Fire Facts
Clothes dryer fires are the cause of more than 17,000 fires every year in the United States, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. People die and get hurt because of fires started while doing laundry. In addition, several hundred people a year are exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning because dryer vents are set up improperly. Many fires occur in dryers that function perfectly. However, they might be neglected and not cleaned properly, which can lead to tragic results.
1. 1. History
• A buildup of lint and reduced airflow is the perfect recipe for a clothes dryer fire. Lint catches fire easily. Dryer fires are a growing problem because many modern laundry rooms are on the upper floors. In the past, they were mostly in the basement and were situated against an outside wall. Now, they are in bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens and closets. That means they are vented much longer distances, with curves or sharp turns in them. Dryer vents are harder to get to and there are more areas for lint to accumulate. The best way to prevent dryer fires is to have a short, direct duct system.
Prevention
• You can prevent dryer fires by properly installing the dryer in the first place. The duct should be made of solid metallic material. Foil and vinyl are combustible and the ducts that are rigid and often catch lint. The duct should be vented to the exterior, definitely not to the crawlspace or attic. Don’t crush or kink the duct to make it fit in tight spaces because this will limit airflow and increase the likelihood of fires. Keep the duct as short as possible and use a 4-inch diameter vent pipe, along with exterior exhaust hoods if possible. This will allow for even better air flow. Avoid using screws to hold the vent pipe together because they will catch extra lint and cause a buildup.
Cleaning
• It’s imperative to clean the lint filter before or after every load of clothes. If the load takes longer to dry than normal, that might be a hint that there is a buildup on the screen or in the exhaust duct. By keeping your dryer as lint-free as possible, you’ll limit the fire hazard and experience energy cost savings. In addition to removing lint by hand, use a vacuum or lint brush to remove lint from under the trap and other areas. Have the dryer dismantled and cleaned every one to three years by a qualified technician. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is on, as well, to make sure the air is escaping. If there is a blockage, you’ll need to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Also, check behind the dryer where lint can build up. Make sure it’s clean and clutter-free.
There’s A Hidden Fire Hazard in Almost Every Home…it’s the dryer vent in Nashville, TN.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that in 1998, clothes dryers were associated with 15,600 fires, which resulted in 20 deaths and 370 injuries. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.
To help prevent fires:
• Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.
• Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Remember to reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again.
• Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer chassis periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter.
• Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow. The flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow.
• Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains. If possible, wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and, preferably, hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle. To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket
Have your dryer vent system cleaned and inspected yearly by a dryer vent cleaning professional.
A standard cleaning will involve unhooking the dryer, cleaning the vent duct with special tools, and checking connections. A professional can also service all venting situations, including today’s extremely long vent ducts. These ducts are especially susceptible to lint buildup. So don’t take a chance – put your family’s safety in the hands of a professional. It will protect them against potential fire and save you money as well – two great reasons why you should think about your dryer vent.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Cleaning your dryer vent can be one of the most important home maintenance items a home owner or renter should perform each year or two. The dryer manufacturers have a system that blows the lint out the same way but each homes dryer vents in a different ways. Some dryers vent through the side of the home and some through the roof. It is much easier for the dryer to blow in a straight horizontal line than vertical. Imagine if you were going to blow air 15 feet through a horizontal PVC pipe vs. blowing air 25 feet straight up.
The problem is the same dryer tries to do both jobs. Other vent issues I find is some home builders in the Nashville area use 90 degree turns in the ducting to make its way to the outside of the home. Each 90 degree turn is a place lint gets clogged, some homes have two 90 degree turns causing even greater clogs. Don’t let a dirty or clogged dryer vent cause a home fire, protect you and your family in Nashville, TN.
