HVAC Blog

Dryer Vent Cleaning Prevents Fires

Some of us believe the threat of dryer fire is a sales tactic used by heating, ventilation, and air  conditioning (HVAC) companies to promote a service we don’t need: professional dryer vent cleaning. However, the National Fire Protection Association says every year, almost 14,000 home fires are caused by laundry dryers, and the most common source of the fire is lint buildup.

Cleaning the lint trap screen before drying every load is the first line of defense against dryer fires. If you’re like most, you clean your dryer vent screen before every laundry load. Maybe you use the handheld vacuum to capture the escaped lint below the screen. If you do, you know the hand vac’s nozzle only gets a fraction of an inch beyond the machine’s vent opening.

If a fire ever starts in your dryer, turn the power switch off if possible. Exit the home and call your local fire department. Keep the dryer door closed. Fires need oxygen to thrive, so keeping the dryer door shut contains the fire and reduces its spread more effectively.

FYI: Chemical Cleaning

Sometimes, there’s a kitchen accident involving cooking oil that causes cleanup cloths to be heavily stained. Weekly housecleaning cloths can also have a variety of chemicals and flammable substances. If you or a family member works in the oil & gas industry, you may be regularly washing clothing stained with flammable chemicals.

Use caution when washing and drying all of these clothing and cleaning items. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends washing oil-stained or chemically contaminated clothing twice. If you suspect the laundering process didn’t completely remove the oil or hazardous chemicals, hang the clothing to dry rather than use your gas or electric dryer. Always use the lowest dryer setting to dry and add a cool-down setting.

Clean the Dryer Duct Every Year

If your laundry takes longer to dry, there might be a blockage, especially if you haven’t cleaned for nearly a year. During the drying cycle, go outside to check the vent. If no air can be seen or felt, the vent or the dryer’s exhaust duct could be blocked. There are several styles of dryer vents, and all require annual inspection and cleaning:

  • Accordion – This aluminum-style vent can be bent and twisted however you need it, so it’s the most versatile and popular type. Unfortunately, even though it’s made of fire-proof aluminum, it’s also the most likely to trap lint, making this type of vent most likely to catch fire.

  • Periscope – This rigid, galvanized steel dryer vent allows you to scoot your dryer closer to the wall.

  • Rigid metal – These ducts can be installed inside walls and offer minimal fire risk.

  • Semi-rigid metal – This is a modified accordion style but has a smooth interior lining to reduce lint buildup and the chance of lint fires. Semi-rigid metal ducts should not be installed inside walls.

  • Vinyl – Because of its high-risk factor for lint fires, vinyl dryer vents/ducts are no longer used, and if your laundry configuration features vinyl vents, they should be replaced.

The DIY process for vent/dryer duct cleaning is:

  1. Disconnect your dryer from the electricity.

  2. Carefully move the dryer away from the wall.

  3. Turn off the gas valve near the dryer. (Be careful not to damage or stretch the gas line.)

  4. Disconnect the duct from the dryer.

  5. Vacuum accessible areas in the dryer and the duct. If you can separate the duct into smaller segments, they may be easier to clean but be sure to reassemble them properly and that they are secured.

  6. Clean the walls behind and flooring under the dryer.

  7. Carefully slide the dryer into its space and reconnect the power.

  8. Turn the dryer on and blow residual lint outside.

High winds can cause exterior duct blockages, so check outside for leaves/debris buildup or birds nesting in vents after storms.

Benefits of Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning

In the Houston area, a professional dryer vent inspection will be necessary prior to cleaning. It usually costs about $70. That’s considered the minimum fee to be charged. Professional dryer vent cleaning services will likely be quoted after the inspection and costs are usually between $65-$275, depending on:

  • Bird guard installation

  • Bird nest removal

  • Dryer vent + air duct cleaning

  • Dryer vent inspection

  • Dryer vent rerouting

  • First-floor vents

  • Lint alert system installation

  • New installation for dryer vent(s)

  • Roof vents

  • Second-floor vents

Clean dryer vents not only lower fire risk: They also help reduce airborne allergens for cleaner indoor air quality, lower energy usage, and promote faster drying cycles. Annual cleaning can eliminate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from gas dryers and lengthen the lifespan of this valuable home appliance. Most home-maintenance blogs recommend professional dryer vent cleaning vs. DIY, especially for anyone with accordion vents or vents located inside walls. But considering the cost, professional dryer vent cleaning is worth the investment for everyone.

Dryer-vent cleaning is messy and involves heavy-lifting/moving. There may be safety issues or improvements you’d miss without a professional inspection. In Tomball and Magnolia, Country Air dryer duct inspection and cleaning experts are trained to provide fast, efficient services. We will leave our work area as clean as we found it. You’ll be happy to learn we won’t compromise your home and family safety, but we will always offer competitive prices.

Never hesitate to call 281-356-8564 or take advantage of our online text messaging service.

FAQs

Two frequently asked questions about professional dryer vent cleaning are:

No. Plastic dryer vents are not up to code, trap more lint, deteriorate easily, and are highly combustible. We will replace this fire hazard with metal.

Country Air HVAC professionals have the tools to work quickly. Our most important tool is education. We are trained to assess vents/venting.
We carry a 50-foot vent snake, cables, connection hoses, couplers for nozzle attachments, lines, locking rods and drill adaptors, vacuum hoses, vent-vacuum Y connections, regular & spinning brushes, reverse skipper nozzle hoses, rotary brush kits, and more. We may use mild cleaning or non-hazardous solutions if needed.

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