Maintaining your dryer means more than just cleaning the lint trap every once and a while. It’s inevitable that lint will build up over time. When this happens, it can cause the dryer the overheat and the lint is very combustible. What happens when your dryer vent is blocked? There is a possibility of fires when this happens. If it’s a gas dryer there’s the potential for carbon monoxide intrusion. When the exhaust duct in a gas dryer is blocked by lint or other debris or there’s a possibility that it’s vented incorrectly, it can cause carbon monoxide to be forced into your home. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has reported that 15,520 fires were caused by dryers between 2006-2010. Most of these fires were a result of dirty dryer vents.
 

Signs Your Dryer Vent is Dirty & Blocked

1. Is the dryer hot on the outside? When the vent doesn’t exhaust the air correctly, the dryer will feel hot when you touch it after a normal cycle.
2. Do you smell a burning smell when the dryer is running? If you can smell burning when your dryer is running, it’s most likely due to dryer lint that is flammable. If you smell this, you’ll need to stop the dryer right away and have it looked at immediately.
3. Is it taking longer to dry your clothes? There’s no question that your dryer vent needs to be cleaned if you notice how long it’s taking to dry your clothes during a normal cycle. The dryer vents job is to push out hot, moist air so the dryer can pull more dry air in to continue the drying process. When the dryer vent is clogged with lint, the moist air can’t escape and will remain in the dryer, making it hard to get your clothes dry. Not only can it cause the dryer to overheat, it can make your energy bill higher and cause more wear and tear on the dryer meaning you may have to replace it sooner than you’d like.
4. Can you see lint coming out the outside vent opening? There’s a vent on the outside of your home where the air that’s in your dryer will come out. If you notice lint at the opening of this vent, you will need to have the system cleaned.
5. When was the last time your dryer vent was cleaned? If you can’t remember, it’s time! It should be inspected and cleaned once a year. You can do it yourself by purchasing a kit or hire the pros to do it for you.
 

Air Duct, Dryer Vent Cleaning & More, in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

It’s best to hire professionals to clean your dryer vent. Professionals use special dryer vent cleaning tools and equipment. They use powerful gas vacuums with special HEPA negative air machines. They work with all makes and models of dryers and can handle long lengths of ductwork that DIY kits can’t. If the brush kit you purchase can’t get around the bends effectively or the entire lengths, it can make the clog worse. Flexible tubes can be damaged if cleaned incorrectly and you might even lose a brush in there if you’re not careful! Contact Steam Green Carpet Cleaning for any questions you might have about dryer vent cleaning or to schedule an appointment.