Annually, fires from home clothes dryers cause around five deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in damage. The main cause? Failure to clean the dryer. FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration say that’s the case in more than a third of all fires in those appliances. To prevent a tragedy, those agencies say, have your appliance serviced by a professional. 

Clothes dryers force hot air through a drum that spins around as the machine operates. Small fibers from lint and other debris on your clothing build up and are collected within the filter, but some of it can slip through into the vents. Lint is highly flammable and blocks the airflow through the vents as it accumulates. The reduced movement of air, combined with the combustible nature of the material that gathers in the vents, can lead to fires.

Beyond the fire risks, reduced airflow from a dirty vent can also make your appliance less efficient. This increases energy costs since the machine has to work harder for longer to dry your clothing. The National Fire Data Center says a full load of wet clothes can hold as much as a gallon and a half (or about 12 pounds) of water when it comes out of the washing machine, and optimal conditions are necessary to extend the life of the dryer. If the dryer isn’t able to rid the clothes of moisture, the clothes can start to smell or develop mold and mildew.

The heat that builds up when the vents are clogged can blow back into the rest of the residence. During summer months, this causes air conditioning units to run continuously, putting undue stress on the unit and raising energy costs.

With such high stakes, it’s important to hire a professional to inspect and thoroughly clean your dryer vents. Special tools help experts to get deep within the ducts, while professional-grade vacuums and flexible brushes allow the technicians to clean the vent thoroughly. A thorough cleaning is essential, and people who try to clean their vents themselves may have a false sense of security in thinking they’ve done a good job. It is an expensive lesson to learn that they missed a significant portion of the debris.

DIY methods are dangerous for other reasons, too. Removing the vent pipe from the exhaust means dealing with clamps and specialty metal tape that could be damaged as you handle it. FEMA also warns an improperly installed dryer is the next-leading cause of fires. Trying to pull the unit out from the wall to clean the vents without the proper training could lead you to compromising the installation. Further, some dryers run on propane or natural gas, and disconnecting the power can lead to hazardous gas leaks. 

Don’t let yourself and your loved ones take a risk, schedule a dryer vent cleaning with Donald’s Duct Cleaning today. Donald’s Duct Cleaning is a family-run business serving Macomb and Oakland Counties. Our expert technicians guarantee quality service that you can count on. Contact us today and get out of harm’s way.