How Do You Know if Your Dryer Vent Needs Cleaning?
The vent is a crucial part of the dryer, transporting hot air to the home’s exterior to lower humidity. It’s prone to various issues, such as lint build-up in the lint trap and hose. Without regular cleaning, the dampness inside the house increases with each cycle, and the machine is rendered inefficient. A dirty vent also compromises air quality and may even cause a fire.
Therefore, it’s critical to hire reliable dryer cleaning services on time. The following signs will help you know when to do so.
Clothes take much longer to dry
Drying regular clothes shouldn’t take longer than 40 minutes, but it can take twice as long if your dryer has a blocked vent. The vent expels hot air from the dryer and pulls in dry air so the dryer can keep working efficiently. However, a clogged vent prevents moist air from escaping, wastes energy, increases energy bills, and causes other parts of the dryer to wear faster. As a result, the appliance may not work as efficiently, leading to slower drying.
Unusually hot clothing
The clothes in a dryer shouldn’t get too hot, or it may point to an overheated dryer due to restricted airflow. Cleaning the lint trap may resolve this, but if the dryer is still sizzling hot, there might be lint in the duct. One can verify this by checking if there’s air escaping from the vent when the machine is running.
A burning smell
A burning smell from the dryer also points to lint accumulation. Lint is highly flammable, and the smell generally comes from smaller components in the dryer hose or lint trap. If this is the case, act on it quickly since lint can catch fire. Turn off the dryer and call a professional.
Lint emerging from the external vent opening
The external opening is where the dryer releases hot air. Most components are six inches wide. If debris or lint is escaping the hatch or building up around it, you should clean the vent system as soon as possible.
The lint flap won’t open
If the lint flap outside the dryer won’t open, airflow is restricted. Again, the most likely culprit is that it has trapped lint inside the vent.
The dryer reports a problem
Most modern dryers can inform the owner if the system encounters any errors. The dryer may have an error code or warning lights to signify this fact.
The appliance stops working
Sometimes, a dryer can automatically shut down if excess heat is detected. In this case, clean the dryer vent and see if this resolves the problem. If not, it may be time for a new dryer.
Cleaning is long overdue
No matter how thoroughly you clean the dryer, lint will find its way inside and start blocking the system. Schedule an annual maintenance and cleaning service to keep your appliance working correctly.
Freedom Appliance of Tampa Bay has 13 years experience in professional repair and installation of all laundry and kitchen appliances and dryer duct cleaning. Call 813-302-7672 today!