When was the last time you thought about your dryer vent? If you are like most people the answer is probably never.
Dryer Vents are seldom seen and rarely worried about, but they are a very important part of keeping a healthy and safe home, but what is a dryer vent? A dryer vent is the exhaust duct attached to the back of your clothes dryer. This vent exhausts all the hot air built up in your dryer safely out of your house, so long as it's kept clean. The dryer vent typically vents from your laundry room, to the side of your house or to the roof.
There are four main benefits of having your dryer vent cleaned annually.
1.) Prevent A House Fire!
This is the #1 reason to clean your dryer vent! According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), failure to clean ones dryer vent is one of the top 10 causes of house fires! This claim is backed by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission which states that over 15,000 home fires a year are caused by dirty dryer vents. This is why Fire Departments across the USA recommend having your dryer vent professionally cleaned AT LEAST once a year.
2.) Save Energy
When your dryer vent is clogged, your dryer has to work a lot hard to try to exhaust its hot air. This means your dryer will be using up more energy resulting in higher utility bills! Not only that but the overexertion of the dryer and high energy use can actually cause it to break down as well. Once your vent is cleaned your dryer will not have to work as hard, so it will use less energy.3.) Makes Your Dryer More Efficient
You may have noticed that over time your dryer has been taking longer to dry your clothes. This too can be a direct result of a dirty dryer vent. When the vent has build up in it or is clogged, it makes it harder for the dryer to exhaust the hot humid air inside of it. So all that heat and moisture will stay in with your clothes causing it to take much longer for them to dry. Cleaning your dryer vent annually will help prevent this problem from happening and have your clothes drying in no time!4.) Pest Control!
Yup you heard me right. All sorts of critters, from bugs, rodents, birds and even snakes, can make nests in your homes dryer vent, especially in the winter time! These little critters love the warm air being exhausted and all the lint inside the vent makes perfect nesting material. Annual cleaning of your vents will help to get rid of any these nests, and help to inform you right away of any infestations.If you are looking for a dryer vent cleaning or any other Healthy Home Services in the greater Phoenix area, be sure to check out our website!
