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!