Are you noticing that your clothes are taking longer to dry or that your dryer has a burning smell? It could be a sign that your dryer vent pipe needs cleaning.
A dryer uses heat and air to extract the moisture from your clothes after washing. This warm air is pushed through dryer. The dryer tumbles to allow the air to penetrate the fabric. While tumbling the fabric breaks down (very slightly). This breakdown of the fabric is called lint. Lint can clog the system and become combustible.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the leading cause of home clothes dryer and washer fires is failure to clean them. Here are a safety few tips to keep your dryer running smoothly…
- Your dryer should be installed and serviced by a professional according to the manufacturer’s instruction
- Always use a lint filter screen when running the dryer and clean it out after each load
- Do not leave your dryer on when you are asleep or out of the home
- Do not overload your dryer more than recommended by the manufacturer.
We at Advanced Chimney Sweeps suggest that everyone have their dryer vent cleaned at least once per year (twice per year if you do a lot of laundry). Cleaning your dryer vent adds to your safety, decreases your energy consumption and helps get your clothes dried quicker. We will also check that the vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap is operational when the dryer is running.
Advanced Chimney Sweeps can help. Contact us in Marietta, GA for a free dryer vent cleaning estimate. Call 770.884.6475 or request an estimate online.