Here at A-1 Ductwork we have two main types of cleaning when it comes to cleaning dryer vent systems.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Technique

1. Standard Cleaning Procedure: All dryer vents are cleaned from the outside using high pressure compressed air with a reverse skipper ball that sends the skipper ball rocketing down the venting to the base of the dryer. Once the skipper ball has gone as far as it will go we start to retract the skipper ball back towards us pulling all the debris and and lint back to the outside where it is collected into a large truck mounted vacuum system.

2. Challenge Cleaning: This type of cleaning is preformed when the dryer system is completely plugged up of not accessible from the outside due to height or concealed from sight. We disconnect the dryer from the venting and insert the Viper Cleaning System into the venting using the Air Whip fitting. The Viper System is a high pressure compressed air cleaning system that uses different fittings that are attached to the end. 250 pounds on air pressure is forced through the Viper System that forces the air out forward, using the Air Whip fitting which has many small air tubes that whip around in the ducting loosing the debris and lint from the walls of the venting well pushing and the lint to the outside of the home. This method is used when cleaning commercial dryer vent systems.

I often get asked how often you should have the dryer vent system cleaned. Well the answer is different depending on the type of dryer in the home, the amount of use the dryer receives, the amount of venting attached and how many elbows are in the dryer vent system.

A simple rule is the more air the dryer system can move the less lint that will build up in your dryers venting. With this fact in mind it’s safe to say that a larger dryer with shorter venting will require cleaning less often than a stack able smaller dryer with the same distance in venting. If you have a large family and the dryer is used more often then its safe to say it needs to be cleaned more often. And the last thing to consider when determining whether you need to have your dryer vent cleaned more often or not is the amount of venting you have. If your venting is more than 20 feet long? does it have more than two elbows? if you answered yes to either question then you would need to have the dryer venting cleaned more often.

The average home should be cleaned every other year and homes that have longer venting, lots of elbows or a smaller dryer that does not move as much air should have the system cleaned every year.

Commercial dryer systems such as in a hair salon where many towels with loose fibers should be cleaned at least every six months.

Check out our Dryer vent cleaning calculator here: Dryer Vent Calculator at http://www.furnacecleaning.info

A-1 Ductworks is located in Fort McMurray, Alberta and can be reached at 780-972-7272 or by email at info@furnacecleaning.info