Many people do a major house cleaning in the summer to get rid of the dirt and grime that has built up during the winter months. If there’s an exterior painting that needs to be done, summer is a great time to take on that task. Cleaning out the garage or the attic is another great thing to get checked off your list during the summer.
If you have a lot of things you’d like to get rid of, summer is a great time to organize a rummage sale and maybe make some extra cash. However, one thing that many people overlook is having their dryer vents. You probably think that cleaning out your lint screen after every load or two of clothes is enough to ensure your dryer runs safely and efficiently, but this isn’t the case. At Owens Chimney Systems, we know the importance of clean dryer vent, and we offer professional dryer vent cleaning to protect your home and family.
How your dryer vent works
The number one reason to make sure that your dryer vents are cleaned is to avoid a devastating house fire. When your clothes are in the washer, tiny particles of clothes are agitated off of the clothing. During the drying process, the drum of the dryer rotates, and the arms on the drum bring the clothes to the top. They drop down from the top down to the bottom, and as they fall, the warm air that is circulating through the dryer blows through the clothes, drying and softening them.
Those tiny particles have to go somewhere. The air goes out of the dryer through the vent, and the particles are caught in the lint screen, forming that blanket of lint that you clean out and throw away. However, some particles escape through and combined with the moist dryer air, they are able to cling to the sides of the dryer vent. Over time, more and more of these particles build up, and that can cause a layer of lint to form on the inside of your dryer vent. Because lint is highly flammable material, all it takes is a spark from your dryer’s electrical system and you’ve got a house fire blazing.
Reasons to get a dryer vent cleaning
Another reason to have your dryer vent cleaned is to get your clothes dry faster. When your dryer vents are full, it takes more effort for your dryer to get rid of the moist air that’s running through the drum out. This means that moisture isn’t leaving your clothes as quickly. If you like to get your laundry done faster, full dryer vents aren’t helping you out! And another reason to have your dryer vent cleaned is to save on your electric bills. If your clothes are taking longer to dry, you’re running your dryer for longer periods of time. This means more electricity is being used, and you are paying higher electric bills.
These are three great reasons to have your dryer vents cleaned, and three great reasons to give Owens Chimney Systems a call and set up an appointment soon!