Dryer Vent Cleaning
FIRE WARNING!
Even a cleaned lint screen traps only 75% of the lint produced inside a dryer. The rest of the lint builds up over time inside the dryer vent, becoming a fire hazard. Dryer lint is highly flammable and has the potential to ignite at any time.
Special Report on House Fires
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a special report detailing the fire hazards related to lint in clothes dryers and dryer vents. Approximately 15,000 fires per year are attributed to excessive lint in dryers and dryer vents. Additionally, dozens of deaths and millions of dollars of property damage occur as a result of these fires.
Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive build-up and can result in a fire in dryers and where they are located.
Dryer vent cleaning reduces the chance of a fire in one's home and is important for both safety and economic reasons. A clogged dryer vent can be a hazard. Dryer vent ducts should be cleaned bi-annually or annually depending on the amount you use your dryer.
Dryer Vent Questions & Facts
Why should you clean your dryer vent?
- Protects your home & its contents from fires, smoke and pollutants.
- Significantly reduces energy operating costs.
- Dryers run more efficiently.
- Dryers will last longer.
- Clothes will dry faster.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:
Purchasing a new dryer does not eliminate the potential fire risk inherent in dryer vents. It is the dryer vent itself, clogged with lint and paper particles, that is the primary and most significant fire hazard.
These images show samples of dryer vents before and after cleaning:
