How to Know if Your Dryer Vent Already Needs Cleaning. Dryers have been helping so many households to dry their clothes. So, as a dryer owner, you also need to help your machine maintain its integrity so that it can provide optimum performance. For sure, you wouldn’t want to have “clean” laundry with a disgusting smell. So, look out for your dryer because it may be the cause of that smell.
If you think your dryer doesn’t need any cleaning at all, think again. Your dryer vent is one of the critical parts of your dryer that requires some cleaning from time to time. It’s crucial to have it cleaned once a year to avoid fire hazards and higher power bills and achieve a more efficient performance.
It’s important to clean your dryer vent regularly to prevent a fire and maintain the efficiency of your dryer. Here are some signs that your dryer vent needs cleaning.
Clothes take longer to dry: If it’s taking longer than usual for your clothes to dry, it could be a sign that your dryer vent is clogged. A clogged vent restricts the airflow, which can make your dryer less efficient. Burning smell: If you notice a burning smell when you run your dryer, it could be a sign that lint has built up in the vent and is getting overheated.
To help you know when’s the perfect time to have your dryer vent cleaned, here are some of the signs:
1. If It Cannot Dry out Your Laundry
If your dryer is not serving its intended purpose, which is to dry clothes, it’s a clear indication that there’s something wrong with your dryer vent. You should have it cleaned right away because it will be hard for a dirty dryer vent to circulate the air throughout the unit. If this is the case, your laundry will be less-than-dry, which may also lead to unit damage.
2. If Your Laundry Is Overly Hot
You can know if your dryer vent needs cleaning if you take out an overly hot laundry after the dryer cycle is done. Your laundry may be hot because of the clogged dryer vent.
The dryer vent cycles hot air and moisture out of the unit. If it’s clogged, the heat can get trapped in the same way moisture can. If you don’t have your dryer vent cleaned right away, your clothes might get damaged, and your unit may not be able to take the heat, which can lead to a fire.
3. If the Temperature in the Room Is Hot
Another sign that your dryer vent is clogged and needs to be cleaned is when the room where your dryer is becomes hot. If your dryer vent is working correctly, the room temperature is not supposed to rise no matter how many loads you run.
You should call for a dryer vent cleaning professional to avoid possible fire incidents immediately after you notice this sign.
4. If Your Laundry Smells Musty
No one wants to have smelly laundry. Once you start noticing that your clean laundry smells musty after taking it out from the dryer, you should have your dryer vent cleaned right away since it’s the primary culprit for why this happens.
5. If You Notice Excessive Lint and Debris
While the purpose of the lint trap is to get the lint from your laundry, it doesn’t mean that there should be much debris and lint in the lint tray. If you notice that there is more lint than usual, it just means that your dryer vent is clogged, and needs cleaning right away because lint and debris should pass through your dryer vent, not stay in the tray.
6. How often do dryer vents need to be cleaned?
For residential dryers that are used regularly, it’s recommended to have the vents cleaned at least once a year. If the dryer is used very frequently or there are many people in the household, the vents may need to be cleaned more often. For commercial dryers, such as those used in laundromats, it’s recommended to have the vents cleaned every three to six months, depending on the volume of laundry being processed.
7. How do I make sure my dryer vent is clear?
Locate the vent: Find the vent on the outside of your home. It’s usually a flap or grille that’s located on the side of your house or on the roof.
Clear the area Clear any debris or vegetation around the vent, which may be blocking it. Check the vent: Use a flashlight to look into the vent and check for any visible obstructions, such as lint or debris. If you can’t see any obstructions, move on to the next step.
Conclusion
If you want to prolong the life of your dryer unit, ensure that you practice proper maintenance and don’t overlook the dryer vent. If you left your dryer vent unchecked, it would only lead to clogging, reduced energy efficiency, reduced longevity, and worse, household fires. If you’re unsure when to clean your dryer vent, look out for these signs and call a professional dry vent cleaning service right away.
If you are looking for dryer duct cleaning in Toronto, Can Do Duct Cleaning is here to help! We specialize in providing dryer vent cleaning services in Greater Toronto and surrounding areas.
Our technicians can clear clogs, lint, and debris across the entire length of your vent tube, ranging from your dryer right to the outside of your home. Book your dryer vent cleaning with us today!