The new year is upon us, so now is the time to resolve to keep up on you home appliance inspections and maintenance. Appliances make our lives so much easier. However, convenience can sometimes come with a little risk as well. When you use your clothes dryer, you are blowing very warm air, as well as some other gases into a confined space. If this air isn’t vented properly it can cause all sorts of issues including poor drying performance, overheating, or gases leaking into your home. While some of these issues can be annoying, some of them can also be hazardous to your health and safety. One of the biggest threats created by improper dryer ventilation is fire. In fact, the United States Fire Administration (USFA) states that approximately 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported every year causing 100 injuries, 5 deaths, and nearly 35 million dollars in property loss annually.The USFA also states that nearly one-third of these fires could have been easily prevented by simply having their dryer vents inspected and cleaned. That’s why we here at Leonard and Sons want to explain why it’s so important to have your dryer vent inspected and cleaned.
Hazards of a Clogged Dryer Vent
Your dryer uses a lot of hot air to dry your clothes. All of this hot air needs a place to vent to prevent overheating. Most models of clothes dryer have an opening for ventilation in the back. Usually this opening is connected to a duct that directs the air into your home’s main air duct, or outside of your home. When your dryer is running, little pieces of fabric called lint, break free from your clothes and are pushed into your lint trap. Unfortunately, your lint trap doesn’t always catch every particle pushed towards your ventilation. When lint gets past the trap it can cause buildups in the air ducts, reducing airflow. This reduction in airflow does two things. First, it makes your dryer less efficient, extending drying times. Second, it makes it likely that more lint will be trapped in your vent. If it gets to the point that there is a significant clog in your ventilation, this can be a very serious hazard. One thing that can happen is that some of your dryer exhaust can get pushed into your home. This exhaust can contain carbon monoxide which can cause health issues including headaches, nausea, sleepiness, and in some cases even death. Another thing that could occur is hot air not being able to vent properly. This can overheat your dryer, causing it to ignite.
Preventing dryer hazards
One of the easiest ways you can help prevent clogged dryer vents is to clean your lint trap after every dryer load. This won’t guarantee that your ventilation won’t get clogged, but it will sure help slow the processes down. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) suggests getting your dryer ventilation system inspected at least once a year. At Leonard & Sons, we have Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified dryer vent technicians. We have the knowledge and experience to clean your dryer ventilation without making a big mess.
Start the year with making your home hazard-free. With Leonard & Sons for you will receive a CSIA-certified quality inspection and cleaning that is guaranteed to satisfy. Call us at 847-658-7659 or check us out online to schedule an appointment today. We look forward to serving you this new year!
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