Dryer Vent Cleaning In Salt Lake City: Everything You Need to Know

It might shock you to learn that a dryer is more dangerous than you might think. Every year, thousands of clothes dryer fires break out across the country. Very few incidents result in death, but the price of property damage is staggering. This is why dryer vent cleaning is essential, not just because it can result in a hefty price tag if you don’t keep up with your maintenance, but also because it’s a safety hazard. Let’s talk about dryer vent cleaning in Salt Lake City and everything you need to know!

Signs You Need To Clean Your Dryer

There are numerous signs that can alert you of the need to clean your dryer vents. Here are some of the most obvious signs:

  • It takes longer to dry your clothes than it usually does.

  • There’s a burning smell coming from the dryer.

  • Your clothes and dryer have a moldy smell attached.

  • There’s a lack of lint on the filter.

  • Lint is on the wrong side of the filter.

  • The dryer overheats and shuts off constantly.

  • There’s lint everywhere, both inside and outside the dryer.

Anything out of the ordinary shouldn’t be ignored! The smallest changes should be treated as a reason to check your dryer vent.

 
Dryer Vent Cleaning In Salt Lake City: Clothes hung from rod hanging on the wall.
 

Benefits Of Clean Dryer Vents

Here are some of the benefits of having clean dryer vents in Salt Lake City and anywhere in the country:

  • Reduces the risk of fires

  • Uses less energy

  • Reduces drying times

  • Save on utility bills

  • Extend the lifespan of your dryer

  • Reduce the need for costly repairs

How Often Should a Dryer Vent Be Cleaned?

When it comes to dryer vent cleaning in Salt Lake City, you want to be doing it at least once a year. This is the minimum. Of course, if you’re noticing issues as mentioned above, then ignore this and tend to it immediately. 

You want to maintain your dryer to ensure nothing hazardous can happen in your home. So don’t ignore warning signs or weekly cleaning of certain elements. A thorough cleaning isn’t required every week, but cleaning things like the lint trap weekly is non-negotiable. 

 
Close-up shot of dryer machines in Salt Lake City, Utah
 

What’s The Average Cost of Dryer Vent Cleaning in Salt Lake City?

HomeAdvisor has estimated that the average cost of dryer vent cleaning in Salt Lake City is between $100 and $169. Of course, high-end dryer vent cleaning in Salt Lake City can cost you as much as $300!

Be careful when hiring for dryer vent cleaning in Salt Lake City. Just because the price is considerably higher, doesn’t mean it’s worth it!

How To Clean Your Dryer DIY Style

You might be thinking, well, why pay for dryer vent cleaning in Salt Lake City if I can just do it myself? That’s a fair question! While we recommend getting a professional to do the dryer vent cleaning in Salt Lake City for you, we can explain how you could DIY the project.

Step 1: 

You’re going to want to gather your tools. Get a vacuum, screwdriver, flexible brush that’s extendable, and a broom. 

 
Dryer Vent Cleaning In Salt Lake City: Cleaning materials, including brushes and dust pan hung on the wall.
 

Step 2: 

Find your dryer's vent. They’re usually located on the back of the dryer.

Step 3: 

Unplug your dryer! Before starting any cleaning project on the vents, never forget to unplug the dryer first. 

Step 4: 

You’re going to need space to adequately attack the machine. So once it’s unplugged, you want to move it away from the wall.

Step 5: 

Now it’s time to disconnect the dryer duct by using the screwdriver to loosen the hose clamps.

Step 6 

Remove the dryer lint. This is achievable by hand, but you should be wearing safety gloves. Be ready with the vacuum to get rid of discarded lint. Don’t forget about heading outside, where you’ll be detaching the vent cover and vacuuming the excess lint. To learn more about cleaning a dryer vent from outside, read our guide on the process!

 
Person putting on gloves over the sink with blue towel on the counter
 

Step 7 

Take your vent cleaning brush and start rotating the cleaning brush inside the duct and vent to remove all excess lint. Be thorough! Not doing a good job defeats the purpose and continues to put you at risk of dangerous consequences.

Step 8 

There’s going to be lint everywhere. So it’s time to clean the floor around the dryer and the walls to remove any remaining lint. You’ll be surprised.

Step 9

You’re going to want to inspect the vent to make sure that you haven’t unintentionally caused any damage to the ducts. If you’re satisfied, it’s time to finish the job.

Step 10 

With everything clean, you’re going to move the dryer back into place and plug it back into the wall. Now do a test run to ensure everything is in working order.

Prevent Lint Build-Up Going Forward

There are ways to prevent a build-up of lint so that you never run into severe issues that could damage your dryer or potentially cause a fire.

  1. Clean the lint trap constantly. You can either do it after every cycle or every other cycle.

  2. Sweep the area surrounding the dryer.

  3. Take the dryer out every now and then and sweep at the back too.

  4. Clean the filters consistently. When water runs through the filter with ease, it’s clean.

  5. Remove the lint trap weekly and vacuum around the area.

 
Dryer Vent Cleaning In Salt Lake City: Lint roller against baby blue baby's clothes.
 

Conclusion

While a clogged dryer vent may not seem capable of causing immense damage, the truth is that they can. Not properly maintaining a dryer can lead to catastrophic consequences, so why risk it?

While you can go the DIY route, it’s always good to put a professional in control of your dryer vent cleaning! If you’re looking for dryer vent cleaning in Salt Lake City, then you don’t need to look any further than Crystal Clean Vents. We’ll have your dryer vents cleaned in no time at all. So get in touch, and let’s make your home cleaner and safer today!

Check out our guide to AC maintenance costs here for more information on maintaining your HVAC in general!