Without the dryer vent, your newly washed clothes would be dirtied again instead of nice, warm, and dry. This component of your dryer removes heat from the dryer, expelling it outside. A dirty dryer vent will not only result in dirty clothes; it can also trigger a dryer fire. For these reasons, it’s important to clean your dryer vent at least once a year. However, you don’t want to unwittingly hurt yourself in the process. Luckily, this blog has five dryer vent cleaning safety tips that you can follow.
5 Vital Dryer Vent Cleaning Safety Tips
Whether you hire a professional or choose to take a DIY approach, knowing these dryer vent cleaning safety tips will ensure this process unfolds without issue. Keep reading so you can be prepared to clean your dryer vent:
1. Turn Off And Disconnect The Dryer
The first of the four dryer vent cleaning safety tips to practice is to turn off and disconnect the dryer. The last thing you want to do is deal with a dryer that accidentally starts running while you’re in the middle of cleaning the vent. First, you want to find a way to turn off the dryer. Once that’s done, unplug the dryer so it isn’t accidentally turned on again. This first tip is the easiest way to ensure safety during the cleaning process.
2. Always Clean The Lint Trap
This piece of advice is even applicable to your laundry routine: always clean the lint trap. Leaving lint in the filter can create a fire risk, given how flammable it is. If too much heat is trapped in the dryer, it can ignite the lint, leading to a dryer fire. It can be especially dangerous if lint makes contact with the dryer’s heating element. As you proceed to clean the dryer vent, make sure to collect and dispose of any lint found around the dryer. A lint-free dryer is a safe dryer.
3. Use The Right Equipment
The right equipment can mean the difference between a clogged dryer vent and a thoroughly cleaned one. Most people are able to use a vacuum hose to clean out the dryer vent, but that may not be possible for everyone. Luckily, there is equipment manufactured specifically to clean dryer vents thoroughly and effectively.
4. Keep A Fire Extinguisher Nearby
If there is a dryer fire, you don’t want it to spread any further. You want to put it out as soon as possible. If you accidentally trigger a dryer fire, you want to have a fire extinguisher. This tool will be the most effective way to stop the fire before it can spread. Before purchasing one, you want to acquaint yourself with fire safety codes too.
5. Check The Outside End Of The Dryer Vent
Finally, another one of the easier dryer vent cleaning safety tips is to check the outside end of the dryer vent. If heat is still coming out of that end, your dryer and dryer vent are in good shape. If not, there might be some other problem with your dryer that requires immediate professional attention.
Our Team Will Clean Your Dryer Vents Today!
Following these safety precautions will allow your dryer vent to be cleaned thoroughly and safely. Neglecting any one of these steps could potentially lead to further problems, from dirty, musty-smelling clothes to dryer fires. Beyond these dryer vent cleaning safety tips, you should also seek the aid of a professional HVAC technician to clean your dryer vent. But who should you trust with this vital task? You can trust our team at Air Duct Cleaning Experts to answer your call for help, so contact us today.