Properly Checking Your Dryer And Vent Ducts

There are some simple steps you can take to prevent fires caused by your dryer. There are certain things that need to be checked regularly on the furnace and central air system, including the wiring of your dryer and vent ducts.

Learn more about looking out for these:

– Check for leaks: Turn off the gas supply and turn the manual gas shutoff valve so it’s in handle is pointing down. Use a flashlight to look for any gas leaks at connections or appliances, such as at the burner box, near wall furnaces and hot water heaters, etc., where properly installed connectors have been left exposed. If you find a leak lower than 1 CWF (2 cubic feet per hour), then call for service immediately.

– Check for poor airflow: There should be a strong draft in the dryer’s venting system under your dryer. If there is no draft, then call for service immediately.

– Check for any signs of molds: You can also check for this by looking inside or around dryers and at ducts. The presence of bacteria can indicate a problem with moisture, which causes mildew and mold to grow.

The Importance Of Hiring A Dryer And Vent Duct Cleaning Professionals

Experience and Knowledge a good reason for hiring a pro is that they have the experience and knowledge necessary to do the job properly. While you might know enough about your system to clean it yourself, mistakes can be made if you don’t know what you’re looking at or doing. The pros know all about how your system works and what they should look out for when cleaning it. They understand how dangerous things like sheet metal can be when full of electricity as well as sharp edges and hot parts that need to be avoided.

Saves Time and Money another advantage of hiring a pro is that it saves you time and money in the long run as opposed to trying to work on something that isn’t your area of expertise. There are lots of parts within your system from the dryer itself to just about everything else including vents, ducts, connectors, fans and motors which all need specialized knowledge to handle. Check out dryer vent cleaning advice for more information.

Clean or Replace Your Dryer And Vent Ducts

One reason for replacement is durability. Repairing an old (and hence, already clogged) dryer vent is likely to be an ongoing process, since the vent accumulates lint at a prodigious rate. Each time you clean it out, the duct has already lost some of its structural integrity. This means that cleaning can lead to increased wear and tear on the vent, so if you tackle even basic repairs yourself, there’s a good chance that your dryer vent will need to be cleaned again in just a few short months.

When dealing with clogged dryer vents , it’s important not to use any chemicals or other additive treatments. Neither steel wool nor scare tactics (such as spraying water into your clogged vents) are recommended for treating this problem; these actions only serve to push the issue forward rather than actually solving it.

And while unclogging your vent can be enormously time-consuming, changing out the old duct with a new one is surprisingly simple. Read more below to learn some of the reasons why replacement is hands down better than cleaning.