5 SIGNS TO SERVICE YOUR DRYER VENT

By Trent Iley, Owner
Dryer Vent Squad

Let’s imagine It’s July in Alabama and it’s hot.  The hot, humid air from drying your clothes moves from the dryer to the outside your south Huntsville home through your dryer vent hose and pipe. Over time, lint builds up in the pipes and can stay in the house increasing your utility bill. Without regular dryer vent cleaning, the humidity in your home increases every time you dry clothes and your machine will be less efficient. A dirty dryer vent hose and pipe also lowers your indoor air quality and can even cause a fire. If drying takes longer, your clothes get hot, there’s a burning smell, or you haven’t had it done recently, you should have your dryer vent cleaned.  Here are 5 warning signs it might be time to have your dryer vent system checked.

DRYING CLOTHES TAKES LONGER
Drying a load of clothing shouldn’t take longer than 35 to 40 minutes, but a dryer with a clogged vent could take two or three times as long to work. Dryer vents push hot, moist air out of dryers so they can pull in more dry air and keep drying clothes effectively. If the dryer vent clogs, moist air from the drying process won’t have anywhere to go, so it wastes energy, increases your utility bills, and wears out the heating element and blower in your dryer faster.

If your clothes aren’t dry at the end of a normal drying cycle, you should have your dryer vent system checked for lint. You may also notice a musty smell from mold or mildew growing on damp clothing.

A BURNING SMELL
If there’s a burning smell when you run your dryer, it’s probably lint. Dryer lint is very flammable, and the burning smell comes from small parts of the lint in your trap or dryer hose getting very hot. Lint can even get so hot it catches fire. If something near your dryer smells like it’s burning, turn off the appliance until you have it inspected by a professional.

A VERY HOT DRYER
If your dryer vent can’t get rid of hot air because it’s clogged, your appliance will feel very hot at the end of a normal cycle. Your laundry room and clothing may feel unusually hot as well.

LINT COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE VENT OPENING
The outside vent opening is the place where the air from your dryer exits your home. Most outside vent openings are about 6 inches wide. If you see lint or debris around the opening or coming from the opening, you should have your dryer vent system cleaned. Also, if the outside vent opening’s duct hood flap doesn’t open when the dryer is on, lint has blocked or restricted the system’s air flow and you should have it cleaned. 

YOU HAVEN’T HAD YOUR DRYER VENT CLEANED IN A YEAR
Have your dryer vent hoses or ducts cleaned and inspected every year to save energy, help your dryer work faster, and prevent a dangerous fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. If the outside vent opening is easily accessible without any elbows, you can clean it yourself with a special kit. However, using a professional isn’t much more expensive, and an experienced technician has the right equipment for almost any type of dryer. Most professionals use a special brush that can’t be bought locally with a vacuum extension. Also, you can’t clean dryer vents thoroughly with some types of home kits and you could damage your vent by accident.

If you have a large family or your dryer is in the center of your home with a long duct run to the outside, you may need to have your dryer vent system cleaned more than once per year. If you tried cleaning your dryer vent system and you’re still having problems, you may need to have your vent repaired or replaced.

Codes for dryer vent exhaust have changed in recent years so call us for an inspection to make sure you are up to code and as efficient as possible.  Dryer Vent Squad of Huntsville can be reached at 256-715-2030 and we service the South Huntsville area 7 days a week.  We live here with you and want to keep our community safe and energy efficient.