A functional dryer will make your life easier due to quick and efficient laundry chores. However, a clogged-up dryer not only causes longer drying times but also leads to increased electricity bills, health hazards, and much more. To prevent unwanted problems, maintain your dryer vents. You may ask, “How often should I clean them?” Don’t worry—this blog has all the answers.
Learn about the importance of dryer vent maintenance and the factors you need to keep in mind when deciding the frequency of cleaning.
Why Should You Clean Your Dryer Vent?
You should never undermine the capabilities of an optimum working dryer vent— it provides numerous benefits such as:
- Prevents Potential Fire Hazards
Losing your house to a fire can significantly strain your mental and physical health and cause financial losses. According to the NFPA, 15,970 house fires involved dryers from 2010 to 2014. The main cause was excess lint and dust; hence, getting dryer vent cleaning is an essential that shouldn’t be ignored.
- Enhances Performance and Efficiency
An obstructed and dusty dryer vent decreases its performance by a great number. The extra workload put on it due to lint and debris will cause longer drying times and additional energy consumption, leading to sky-high utility bills. Clean your dryer vent to avoid these issues.
- Increases the Lifespan and Reduces Restoration costs
Dryers that are cleaned regularly are known to last longer than those that are un-maintained. No wear and tear on the appliance’s components will increase its lifespan.
Also, by simply getting dryer vent cleaning done occasionally, you won’t have to spend on frequent repair or replacement costs.
Read Also: 7 Warning Signs Your Dryer Vent is Clogged
Factors Affecting Vent Cleaning Frequency
Now that we’ve covered the importance of cleaning your dryer vent, let’s talk about the elements you must consider before coming up with a cleaning schedule. It’s suggested by authorities to get the dryer vent cleaned once per year; however, it also depends on other factors like:
Family Size and Usage
The first two things to consider are your family size and how frequently you need to run dryer cycles, as they are interlinked. Large-person households often have vast chunks of laundry and need to run the dryer multiple times a week. This leads to faster and heavier lint and debris accumulation that will need cleaning at least every six months.
Type of Dryer
The kind of dryer you have also plays a part in cleaning frequency.
- Gas Dryer: The lint accumulation isn’t the only problem with this type of dryer, as it involves harmful gasses, making it essential to clean and inspect it twice per year.
- Electrical Dryer: Those with electrical dryers should maintain them according to the guidelines (once a year) while looking for warning signs.
Dryer Vent Length and Configuration
The length of your dryer vent will also play a deciding factor in how often to clean it.
- Straight Pipes: Short vents with no bending don’t clog up that much; hence, you only need to clean them annually.
- Complex and Long Pipes: Long vents with complex configurations, such as bending and curving, are at a higher risk for dust and lint obstructions and require cleaning every three to six months.
Material of the Vent
Dryer vents are usually made from particular materials like:
- Plastic / Foil: Vents made from plastic or foils are at a higher risk of breaking and trapping lint. Ideally, dryer vent cleaning for these materials should be done potentially every three months.
- Metal Ducts: Due to their rigidity and sturdiness, metal vents trap lint much less; hence, they don’t need regular maintenance. A perfect cleaning schedule would be once per year.
Presence of Pets
Cats, dogs, or any other animal with fur tend to shed a lot of hair. Having any of them in your house will lead to pet dander, which can clog up the vent along with lint and debris.
Unsure if Your Dryer Vent Needs Cleaning? Let the Experts Handle It!
From house fire risks to unbelievably high electricity bills, a clogged-up dryer vent can lead to a myriad of problems you don’t want. However, a cleaning schedule that fits your vents needs is an easy solution.
At Easy Steam, our skilled professionals will thoroughly inspect your dryer vents and guide you on the best cleaning method and timeline.
