Why You Should Clean Your Dryer & Vents

Keith is here today to talk to us about cleaning your dryer and vents. You might not think that cleaning your dryer is a very big deal, but is actually very important and can even save you from having a fire start.

Cleaning out your vent trap after every dry is a great habit to have an keep. If you don't already, start cleaning it every time! This is important because build up lint can actually get under the cabinet of the dryer and ruin the machine.  

Even when you clean your lint catcher every time, lint can still pass through and carry to the back of your machine and into the vents that lead to the outside of your home. A ton of buildup in these areas can be very bad. Lint is a cluster of small fibers, dust, and debris which is very easy to ignite. If the lint builds up with the 150 degree or so hot air flowing through can actually cause it to catch on fire. Many of us have heard of dryers catching fire. The lint is actually what starts it. This can be avoided by checking and cleaning your dryers.

It is very important to check and clean the back of your dryer and vents once a year. If it's not too clogged, you can clean it yourself. If it's really bad or if you don't want to deal with it, we recommend to have a company come out and professionally clean it for your safety. A local Colorado company that we would recommend is Brand Source Appliance Service & Repair.

We hope that you have learned why it is so important to clean out link in your dryer and vents. Go check and clean them today!

Creative Uses for Dryer Lint

Emptying the lint trap after every load of laundry is one of the most important ways to take care of your dryer and make sure that it runs safely and efficiently. But what should you do with all that dryer lint you collect? Sure, you could just throw it away, but if you like the idea of recycling and repurposing objects, read on for some inventive uses for dryer lint.

Absorbent makeshift towel- You can use a handful of dryer lint to soak up messes for a quick, absorbent fix. This comes in especially handy for motor oil in the garage or driveway.

 

Stuffing for toys and pillows- If you are the crafty sort who enjoys sewing pillows, quilts and stuffed toys, dryer lint makes a great substitute for cotton batting or another type of stuffing you would find in a craft or hobby store.

 

Pet bedding- Small animals like hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs like a nice fluffy nest to sleep in. Dryer lint makes the ideal bedding for your furry friend.

 

Packing material- If you are looking for a greener and cheaper alternative to Styrofoam packing peanuts or bubble wrap, we suggest a nice layer of dryer lint around your fragile items. The lint makes a good cushion for anything you are trying to mail.

 

Fire starter- You undoubtedly know that dryer lint is a fire hazard; after all, accumulation of lint in the dryer is responsible for 2,900 fires in the US each year.* Put that flammable quality to good use by bringing lint with you on camping trips, or use in your wood-burning fireplace to get the fire going. PRO TIP- Mixing the lint with melted wax from old candles in empty cardboard egg cartons makes handy fire-starting blocks.

 

Mulch-To help plants stay warm during the winter months, apply a layer of dryer lint to the soil for insulation. The lint is biodegradable over time and will break down on its own.

 

 

*Source: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v13i7.pdf

Prevent A House Fire - Clean Your Dryer Vent

More than 15,000 fires are sparked every year by clothes dryers, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Many people are more aware of cleaning out the lint trap between loads but seem to forget that the dryer vent needs to be cleaned out on a regular basis as well.

I’m not saying you need to clean the hose every month or anything – that’s unnecessary; we’re talking about every year to year-and-a-half. The vents used in dryers can built up thick walls of lint and other dirty debris over time that can trap the air that needs to escape for effective drying. By preventing the air and moisture to escape, the dryer has to work harder and harder at drying – leading to heat build-up which may cause a vent fire.

The placement of your washer and dryer could create a higher risk for a fire to occur. If the dryer is located in the middle of the house rather than up against an outside wall, the dryer vent hose is much longer which makes it more difficult for the dryer to push the lint out. Therefore, dryers with longer vents need to be monitored more closely as they are more susceptible to fires.

Getting your dryer vent cleaned out also preserves the life of your dryer and keeps your energy bill down! If you installed your own dryer, chances are, there may be a few tweaks a technician can help you fix in order to ensure your machine is working safely and efficiently.

So please, be mindful of this household task as these fires are preventable. If you don’t remember the last time you had it cleaned, it would be a good time to call someone to get it looked at because chances are, you’re over-due and holding you and your family at high risk!

For tips on how to catch build-up before it’s too late, visit ABC Action News

 

LINT ALERT is also available!

Lint alert can be installed in your home to take the guess work out of this potentially hazardous issue. This device is placed in your home and is connected directly to your dryer; this system detects the amount of lint and debris build up in your dryer vent and will alert you once it evaluates that the vent is too full and there is a high risk for fire. Our specialists highly recommend the use of the Lint Alert to be used in every home to eliminate the risk of a house fire and ensure the safety of your family.

 

References:

ABC Action News

The Almetal Dryer Vent Corporation

 

We provide vent cleaning services! Call Brand Source at (720) 881-8384 to learn more about Lint Alert and schedule your vent cleaning appointment today!