5 Key Benefits of Dryer Vents Cleaning

We recommend cleaning your dryer vents every now and then. However, we’re not just saying this because we offer top-notch professional cleaning services for your dryer vents and want you to come to us. Instead, there are several advantages you can stand to gain from keeping up with your dryer vent cleaning.

Like other home appliances, dryer vents also need some tender loving care. While periodic servicing is one half of the equation, cleaning their vents is the other.

 
Black and white photo of dryers in basement of Utah home
 

But what exactly are the benefits of dryer vent cleaning?

In this blog post, we help you understand the risks of ignoring your dryer vents and we share insight into the positive impact of dryer vent cleaning on your health, safety, time, and even your wallet. So, keep reading to find out more.

What is your Dryer Vent?

The answer to this question sounds fairly straightforward. However, you may be surprised that many people frequently mix up two common parts of a dryer —  the dryer’s lint trap and the dryer’s vent.

The lint trap refers to the mesh grid on your dryer and is usually accessed from the front of the appliance. As the name implies, the function of the lint trap is to catch as much lint as it can from each load of laundry you do. Most people typically empty the lint trap after every laundry.

Comparatively, your dryer vent is located behind the appliance and is responsible for passing the hot air that your dryer generates to the outside of your home. This means that if your dryer vent is clogged, excess heat will be trapped within the system, which poses several risks.

 
 

You should note that any lint that your dryer’s lint trap misses will usually go into the dryer vent and cause a buildup alongside other debris particles.

The Top Benefits of Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning

While this may be the most obvious reason, cleaning your dryer vents does much more than ensure that your dryer keeps running optimally. Here’s why you should secure professional cleaning services for your dryer vents from time to time:

Safety

If you let your dry vents go a long time without proper cleaning, you may be putting yourself, your family, and your home at risk. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), dryer vents are a leading cause of home fires in the US. You see, lint is highly flammable. Therefore, when there is a buildup of excess heat in your dryer, the lint may catch on fire leading to a home fire.

In addition, gas dryers release carbon monoxide through their vents. So, if the driver vent is blocked by debris, the gas cannot escape and will go back into your home. This poses a serious health risk as carbon monoxide is odorless, almost impossible to detect, and very dangerous.

However, scheduling period dryer vent cleaning can help prevent both fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Faster drying times

If you have to run your clothes through multiple drying cycles before they come out fully dry, then your dryer vent may be blocked. Of course, proper dryer vent cleaning should solve this problem.

If a dryer’s vent is clogged up, it traps humid air in the machine, making it much harder for the moisture in your clothes to evaporate during one complete cycle. As a result, you’d likely need to run the drying cycle several times before you can bring out your clothes without the dampness.

While running multiple drying cycles does not sound like a problem, especially if you have the time, it also means you’re overworking your machine, leading to faster wear and tear.

Less damage to your clothes

The best dryers dry your clothes quickly at a temperature that is hot enough to remove moisture without damaging them. However, your dryers also need to stay free of lint and other debris to perform optimally. In other words, if your dryer vent is blocked, it can affect the balance of the system meaning your clothes may be exposed to more heat than necessary, potentially damaging them.

 
 

Besides, a clearer dryer vent means that your clothes can get through the drying cycle much faster and more efficiently, which means short exposure to heat. So, if you cut the drying durations your clothes go through, it also makes sense that they’ll stay in good condition for longer.

Lower electricity bills

Scheduling professional dryer vent cleaning can reduce your average laundry time. But that’s not all. An efficient dryer also means your machine consumes less power, leading to lower electricity bills. The difference can be particularly significant if you usually had to run multiple drying cycles before you decided to have your vents cleaned.

If your dryer vents are blocked, your dryer will have to work harder to dry your clothes, which means it uses up more energy than necessary.

However, while you may not see a symbolic reduction in your electricity bill straight away, you can be sure to see some difference in the long run. After all, a dryer that’s running smoothly and efficiently will require shorter drying cycles, which means fewer electricity units are consumed.

Longer dryer lifespan

Nobody likes to buy a new appliance before it’s necessary. Or having to carry out frequent repairs because the machine keeps breaking down. Thankfully, periodic dryer vent cleaning can help increase the lifespan of your machine.

You see, a blocked dryer vent means the system generally has to work harder to produce optimal drying results. This stresses the machine and increases the rate of wear and tear. As a result, you may have to repair or replace dryer parts more frequently than usual as they experience more stress than they should.

 
5 Key Benefits of Dryer Vents Cleaning. Electricity reading in Utah home.
 

Eliminating these obstructions through regular cleaning not only relieves the stress on the dryer but also enhances its overall efficiency, leading to reduced energy consumption and a longer-lasting appliance.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, professional dryer vent cleaning is a proactive measure that not only ensures the optimal performance of your appliance but also contributes to safety, energy efficiency, and cost savings. In other words, investing in this service is a small effort with significant long-term benefits for your home and wallet.

Do you want to schedule a professional dryer vent cleaning? Contact Crystal Clean Vents and we’ll send one of our experts over in no time!