Our Company Blog

Prevent Dryer Fires

Are you doing everything you can to protect your home from a damaging and dangerous fire? When was the last time you had your clothing dryer vents were cleaned? The U.S. Fire Administration reports 2,900 clothing dryer fires each year, which result in five deaths, 100 injuries and more than $35 million in property damage. Homeowner’s failure to clean the dryers causes an estimated 34 percent of dryer fires.

How Dirty Dryers Cause a Fire

Most homeowners believe that they’re doing everything they need to prevent a dryer fire by cleaning out the dryer’s lint trap between every load of laundry. However, the lint trap only catches a portion of the lint that each load of laundry creates. Every time the dryer operates, wet lint bypasses the lint trap and collects on the side of the dryer vents. Over time, that dryer lint builds up as more lint sticks each time you dry a load of clothes. When the lint accumulates enough, it begins to inhibit the ability of the dryer to “breathe.” The dryer begins to overheat, and that can cause the lint to ignite.

How to Prevent Dryer Fires

Lower your risk of a dryer fire with a professional dryer vent cleaning. A professional duct cleaner clears away lint accumulation with rotary brushes. During a cleaning, a high-powered vacuum is attached to the vent while rotary brushes are pushed through the vents. The brush handles bend around the curves of the dryer vent to clean the entire length of the vent. Your dryer vent technician inspects the vent to ensure proper installation and condition.

Why You Should Trust Your Chimney Sweep For Your Dryer Vent Cleaning

If your dryer vents are overdue for a cleaning or if you notice signs of a clogged dryer vent, call Your Chimney Sweep today! Signs of clogged dryer vents include longer drying times, an overheating dryer, or a burning smell when the dryer is operating. Your Chimney Sweep is the area’s best choice for dryer vent cleaning because our technicians are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. That means they have been properly trained and tested in cleaning and maintaining clothing dryer vents. The Chimney Safety Institute of America’s Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician designation is the only designation of that type in the country. Therefore, the certification is the only way to know if you have hired a trustworthy dryer vent technician. Schedule your appointment now!

Why You Need an Annual Dryer Vent Cleaning

You know your chimney should be swept and inspected annual, but what about your clothing dryer vents? As with your chimney, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that you have your dryer vents cleaned and inspected annually to reduce your home’s risk of a damaging and dangerous fire.

The danger of clogged dryer vents

Each time you dry a load of laundry, bits of lint from your wash bypassing your dryer’s lint trap and cling to the walls of your dryer vents, and then to each other. Over time, that highly flammable lint builds up within the dryer vents. When the vents are blocked, it can cause a dangerous buildup of heat within the dryer and the vents, which can ignite the lint, and it can prevent dangerous gases like carbon monoxide from exiting your home.

The NFPA reported that washers and dryers were responsible for an estimated 16,800 structure fires in the United States in 2010. In addition to causing 380 injuries and 51 deaths, those fires caused $236 million in property damage. In 32 percent of the fires caused by clothing dryer, clogged dryer vents were the cause of the fires, the NFPA reported. That makes clogged dryer vents the leading cause of dryer vent fires. According to statistics, dryer vent fires have become more common in recent years. Where dryers have traditionally been located on exterior walls, meaning they required short vents, dryers are no commonly located in interior laundry rooms. Because of that, dryer vents can be up to 25 feet in length and include many twists and turns.

Dryer vent cleaning with Your Chimney Sweep

Your Chimney Sweep can help reduce your risk of a home fire with our dryer vent cleaning services. To clear your dryer vents, we will use our rotating brushes to loosen the lint filling your vents, and then we will use our high-powered vacuums to clear away the lint without leaving a mess in your home. We also will inspect your dryer vents for animal intrusions, vegetation blocking the vents at the home’s exterior, and any damage or potential hazards.

Other benefits of dryer vent cleaning

In addition to reducing your home’s risk of a dangerous fire or a deadly buildup of carbon monoxide, dryer vent cleaning brings other benefits. When dryer vents are clogged, your dryer has to work harder to dry your clothes. Clogged vents cause your dryer to work overtime. Cleaning your dryer vents can shorten drying times, saving you money on your home energy bills. Clogged vents also cause your dryer to overheat, which can burn out elements of the dryer, shortening its lifespan. Cleaning your dryer vent can keep your dryer vent operating efficiently for years to come.

If you don’t know the last time your dryer vents were cleaned, or if you have noticed a decrease in the function of your clothing dryer, call Your Chimney Sweep to schedule your dryer vent cleaning today!