When you inspect your dryer vent, you are definitely going to see a lot of things. It may be tough to discern which of these things warrant Dryer vent cleaning. Knowing the things to look out for can help save you a lot of time and money when hiring a pro.
A buildup of lint and other debris can cause the dryer hose to become too clogged up for proper air flow. This presents you with many hazards. Avoiding hazards can be done by regular and proper inspection of the dryer vent. Make sure you look for the right indicators as listed below.
- Your clothes are too hot after drying? Look at the debris buildup.
Perhaps the best indicator that you need to get dryer vent cleaning is when your clothes become too hot after you use the dryer. This isn’t the only issue presented. Your dryer will use up more energy due to the buildup of debris such as lint.
The heating element and blower in your dryer will wear out faster because of the heat being generated by the clogging of the debris. Make sure that you inspect past the surface of the debris buildup to get an idea of how much clogging there is.
- Drying takes longer than it used to? Look at the vent for any solid blockages.
Lint isn’t the only thing that you should worry about when your dryer starts acting abnormally. There are times that we forget to remove particular items in our clothing and they get left in the washing machine and dryer instead.
It is important that you remove things such as keys, coins, and other items that may get stuck in the vent. Lint builds up slowly which means that you won’t notice a rapid change. That’s why a sudden change in the amount of time spent drying should alarm you and encourage you to look for bigger items.
- Dryer not working as expected? Check if the vent system has been lengthened.
If you have recently moved in and you don’t know whether the previous owners lengthened the vent system, it should be the first thing that you check. Most of the time, it will be obvious because of how poorly the dryer performs.
A vent system that has been lengthened will also clog up a lot more frequently due to the spacing. Make sure that the dryer vent ducts are straight and short. If this is the case and you still have to get frequent dryer vent cleaning, it’s time to consider a replacement.
- Dryer falling apart? Avoid DIY solutions with tapes.
When screws are replaced with tapes, your dryer is likely going to perform in a poor manner. Make sure that you contact a professional to help you repair or replace your dryer properly. Not doing so may end up getting you to make more calls for a dryer vent cleaning every other week. It may be tempting to just use tape, but it’s not an ideal solution in the long term.
Dryer vent cleaning is a must to prevent fire or any untoward incidents at home. Contact JCS Home Services today and we’ll be more than glad to do it for you.
