Maintenance of your home appliances is necessary to ensure that they work properly and for as long as possible. It is also necessary to keep them working properly and to ensure that they don’t pose any risk to your safety. One of the most neglected home appliances is your clothes dryer. You know about the importance of replacing your air filters or regularly cleaning your gutter, but when was the last time you took a closer look at your dryer – especially your dryer vent?
Your dryer does an important task of keeping your clothes dry in a short span of time. It prevents you from having problems with damp laundry. Some homeowners may focus on cleaning the lint screen between loads of laundry, but it may not be enough. The real problem here lies on your dryer’s vent. Did you know that the dangers of not having your dryer vent cleaned regularly can result in costly problems and can possibly endanger your home or life?
When not cleaned regularly, here are some lists of dangers your dryer vent may be exposing your family to:
Fire hazard due to excessive heat or humidity
A dryer without proper maintenance can be very dangerous. Lint building up in the vent is highly flammable and may cause a fire. In fact, according to the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Data Center, more than 15,000 structural fires in the country each year are caused by clothes dryers. And about 80% of these fires are caused by clogged dryer vents. If you don’t want to be the next victim of fire hazard caused by a clothes dryer, then make sure to have your dryer vent cleaned regularly.
Musty odors that can pose a threat to your health
If your dryer vent is malfunctioning, it can trap heat, resulting in a musty odor. Aside from this undesirable odor, it can also become a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, posing greater health risks to you and your family. The trapped heat and humidity also attract mold growth, which could damage your appliances.
Soggy laundry
Without proper maintenance, dirt and other debris can accumulate in your dryer, vent clogging it and preventing it from doing its job. Aside from soggy laundry, a clogged dryer vent also wastes your time in making multiple cycles of laundry as well as increasing your energy consumption. Using your clothes dryer with a clogged dryer vent or a dirty lint screen can cause your electricity bill to shoot up to 30%.
Regular maintenance is a must if you want to maintain your appliances’ tip-top condition. Cleaning your dryer vent from time to time will not only save you time, money, and energy, but it will also increase the lifespan of your unit. Dryer vent maintenance can be done easily with a DIY knowledge; however, nothing beats calling a professional maintenance company. Dryer vent cleaning professionals have better knowledge in keeping your unit working properly as well as they can also give you advice on how to take good care of your appliances.
