Cleaning Dryer Vents to Prevent Dryer Vent Fires

Dryer vent cleaning is the number one prevention of appliance related fires in homes. When people perform regular maintenance to prevent home fires, they often think about the stove and the furnace. Do you know that your clothes dryer is more likely to start a fire than your stove or furnace?

Clogged dryer vents account for over 15,000 fires each year. Failure to clean dryer vents is the main cause of dryer fires. Cleaning the lint screen between loads helps a lot; however, more diligence is required to prevent dryer fires.

The lint screen only traps about 60% of the lint that is removed from tumbling laundry; the rest escapes into the dryer vents or the back of the dryer. Lint is extremely flammable; a small spark from within the dryer is all it takes for the lint to ignite and start a rapidly spreading house fire.

Professional dryer vent cleaning should be done at least once a year to prevent dryer fires and keep clothes dryers operating safely and efficiently. In addition, cleaning dryer vents promotes maximum air flow to keep your dryer from over working. Clogged dryer vents will cause your dryer to consume an additional $18-24 per month in utility bills.

Dryer vent cleaning will also prevent premature dryer failure, saving you money on appliance repair. When lint accumulates inside the dryer and dryer vents, it causes the dryer to labor as it dries clothes. Air flow is the most important function of your clothes dryer.

Tips for preventing dryer fires:

• Clean the lint filter to prevent dryer fires and keep your dryer operating properly.

• Do not store flammable materials near the clothes dryer

• Do not dry rags that are soaked with flammable substances like gas or oil. Flammable materials can emit fumes which could ignite. Even if the rags are washed first, they can contain residue; line dry these items.

• Be sure your dryer vent system is properly installed, using the correct dryer vent tubing. Replace plastic, aluminum foil and vinyl vent tubing with metal vents.

• Have professional dryer vent cleaning performed annually.

Even the most energy efficient dryer and the best dryer vent system needs annual cleaning to keep your dryer operating safely and efficiently. For more information about dryer vent safety and efficiency, visit http://www.dryerventwizard.com

Dryer Vent Wizard is a nationwide company providing dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, and dryer vent installation in many market areas including Boise, ID; Charlotte, NC; San Diego, CA; Leesburg, VA; Arlington, VA, Fairfax, VA; Connecticut; Raleigh, NC; Washington DC, VA; Livonia, MI; Denver, CO; Cleveland, OH; Boston, MA; Massachusetts, New Hampshire; Birmingham, MI; Bloomfield Hills, MI; Wausau, WI; Long Island, NY; Sacramento, CA; Temecula, CA; Baltimore, MD; Columbus, OH; Minneapolis, MN; St. Joseph, MO; Kansas City, MO; Boca Raton, FL; Atlanta, GA; York, PA; Lancaster, PA; Nashville, TN; Murfreesboro, TN; Seattle, WA; Chicago, IL; Santa Rosa, CA; Vallejo, CA; San Francisco, CA; Fresno, CA; Louisville, KY; Cincinnati, OH; Birmingham, AL; Baltimore, MD; Pittsburg, PA; Modesto, CA; Syracuse, NY