Over the weekend I had many furnace duct cleaning jobs and during our Spring promotion we are offering a free dryer vent cleaning with the Furnace duct cleaning service. During one call I found a dryer vent that had never been cleaned and the home owner was not aware that cleaning the dryer vent at least one per year is a recommended fire hazard prevention method.

This dryer vent was barely moving any air and was about 75% plugged over, the dryer was very hot and the plastic ribbed dryer venting had signs of melting in places. I showed this to the customer before I went outside and cleaned the venting using a reverse skipper method with high pressure air.

I had the customer come outside to view the large amounts of lint that was being removed from the venting as the customer stood there in shock. “I had no idea” said the customer as I assured him that most customers do not realize how much lint is built up in the dryer venting so I decided to offer a few tips to home owners about dryer venting.

1. Lint traps only remove about 75% of the lint that builds up during the drying cycle, the remainder is dispossed of out the venting.

2. Clean the lint trap before every cycle of drying and clean the lint trap at least once per month with soapy warm water and let dry before using again.

3. Do not use flexible plastic venting, use straight pipe and metal elbows when possible or semi rigged metal venting. This type of dryer venting can’t catch fire and allows for the greatest air flow. Plastic ribbed venting allows the dryer lint to build up on the inside causing air flow problems which can lead to a dryer fire.

4. Clean around the back of the dryer and do not allow build up of lint in this area. A dryer gets very hot in areas especially close to where the venting on the back is, keeping this area clean helps to prevent the possiablly of fire.

5.  Warning Signs:

• Dryer taking longer than 40-45 minutes to dry a load
• Dryer is noisier than usual
• Dryer feels hotter to the touch
• Dryer shuts off before the end of the cycle
• Clothes are still hot and damp at the end of the cycle
• Extra moisture in the laundry area
• Flapper does not open when dryer is on

6. Benefits of Dryer Vent Cleaning

Well the main obvious reason for cleaning your dryer vent is the prevention of dryer fires there are other good reasons for cleaning your dryer vent.

• Decrease Energy Use. A mere 1/2″ of buildup in a typical 4″ vent will reduce your dryer’s efficiency by up to 40%!  Restricted air flow will cost you $$$.
• Quicker Drying Times. A dryer is a very expensive applience to operate.  The longer it runs, the more it will cost you!
• Clothes Last Longer. The longer your clothes tumble in your dryer, the more they wear out.  And those fibers that break loose contribute to the buildup in your dryer vent!
• Longer Dryer Life. Overheating and allowing the dryer to run longer can cause premature failure of the bearings, elements, ignitors and other critical parts.

Our dryer vent cleaning service is available for $149.95 without furnace duct cleaning service. To book an appointment for dryer vent cleaning in the Fort McMurray Area call 780-598-5966. For more information on dryer vent cleaning go to our dryer vent page

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