Dryer Vent Cleaning Benefits

If you don’t know by now, dryer vents, too, need cleaning. The process involves disconnecting the dryer vent at the back of the unit. The vent is then connected to a suction machine that vacuums the pent-up lint from the duct. In addition to this, the duct may be sprayed with high pressure water jets to break loose stubborn or hardened particulate matter from the walls of the duct and the vent. So why should you seek to have all this done to your dryer vent, you may ask? Read on to find out.

1. Allows easy exhaust of damp air from the dryer

The way dryers work is that damp air from the clothes is expelled through the dryer vent and released into the air outdoors. It works sort of like an air conditioner in a heating cycle. If not cleaned regularly, lint from the clothes can collect inside the vent and duct. This causes obstruction to the normal exhaust of the damp moisture from the dryer unit. The damp air backflows along the duct and even flows back into the dryer when the blockage is severe. Needless to say, this tampers with the normal functioning of the unit. Dryer vent cleaning avoids this and allows for smooth exhaust of damp air from the unit.

2. Allows faster drying of your clothes

For clothes in the dryer to dry, the moisture must be extracted in full. And this moisture is extracted from the clothes through the damp air travelling through the dryer vent. A dryer vent full of lint and particulate matter makes it difficult for this moisture extraction process to carry on. As a result, the moisture extraction process is greatly inhibited. This causes the clothes drying process to take longer than usual. However, when the vents are clean, damp air is extracted quickly thereby allowing your clothes to dry in no time.

3. Reduces the power consumption of your dryer unit

When a dryer vent is clogged with lint and particulate matter, it strains to eject the damp air by force. This is because the air has to be forced past the lint and at the same time the exhaust damp air has to counter the backflow air created by the blockage. This leads to the appliance consuming more energy than it normally should. As expected, this translates to higher energy bills at the end of the month. Dryer vent cleaning avoids all this and ensures that your unit does not consume more power than it should.

4. Averts risk of fires due to overheating

Not many home owners know this but dirty dryer vents are responsible for thousands of domestic fires across the US every year. And these fires not only damage the dryers, they also damage property, cause injury, and even result in fatalities. When dryer vents fill up with lint, the motor in the appliance is strained as it struggles to eject damp air from drying clothes. In some cases, this strain causes overheating. And sometimes, the motors cause a fire which ignites the lint in the vents to cause an even bigger fire. So simply having your dryer vents cleaned can prevent a domestic fire.

5. Saves you money by preventing avoidable dryer repairs

Strained dryer motors due to lint build-up in the vents and ducts cause more wear to the appliance and its mechanical components such as the motor, belt, alternator, and others. It is therefore no surprise that dryers that haven’t had their vents cleaned in a long while tend to require more repairs. By seeking dryer vent cleaning, you can prevent such wear from happening and save yourself the hassle and cost of regular repairs.

6. Prolongs the lifespan of your dryer unit

And of course, the straining of the dryer motor due to exhaust backflow as well as overheating and regular repairs all affect the longevity of your dryer. If your dryer had the ability to last for 15 years under normal conditions, it ends up lasting half that time. This derives you of the financial value of your investment and forces you to cough up more money to buy another unit prematurely. On the other hand, a dryer that has its vents cleaned regularly does not strain and does not suffer regular breakdowns. It ends up functioning under easier conditions and lasting much longer, much to the financial benefit of the owner.

Wondering if you should seek dryer vent cleaning services? Well, now you know!