It’s so surprising for many homeowners to learn that their dryers could lead to a potential home fire. In fact, thousands of fires begin as a result of poor dryer maintenance each and every year. Don’t let this home convenience cost you thousands of dollars in property damages, and don’t let it endanger your family members. Learn about the dangers of dryer vent fires and the importance of professional maintenance here.
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Dryer Vent Cleaning’
The Dangers of a Dryer Fire and How to Prevent One
Tuesday, January 19th, 2016Do You Know of the Dangers of a Clogged Dryer Vent?
Monday, October 19th, 2015The vent that leads from your home’s clothes dryer to the outside of the home is rather unremarkable in its structure. But its sole purpose is to vent dangerous combustion byproducts like carbon monoxide out of the home. This is a vital part of a home that is often neglected. It can become clogged with debris over time, no matter how often you clean out the lint trap. And eventually, all of that debris can lead to one of the biggest dangers to your home: fire.
3 Reasons to Schedule Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning
Monday, April 13th, 2015The clothes dryer is a convenience that many of us cannot picture life without. Gone are the days of hanging up clothes on a line to dry; today, you simply load up your wet clothes, turn a knob, press a button, and you can expect to have dry, comfortable clothing within the hour. While you know to clean out the lint filter with each cycle, you probably don’t give any additional thought to maintaining your clothes dryer. But when you neglect to schedule professional dryer vent cleaning on a regular basis, you risk a whole lot. Here’s why this service is so valuable.
What Happens During Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning?
Thursday, December 4th, 2014One of the biggest fire hazards to your home comes from an appliance you might never suspect: the clothes dryer. Dryers contain a vent that exhausts water vapor and other by-products of clothes drying to the outdoors. Unfortunately, this necessary outlet is also responsible for 15,600 structure fires every year according to the U.S. Fire Administration. When the exhaust vent becomes clogged with lint, fire is a distinct possibility, and while cleaning the lint trap is a good habit for dryer use, it cannot prevent lint from lining the inside of the vent as well.
Some trained technicians offer professional dryer vent cleaning so that you can rest easy knowing this is one component of your home you won’t have to worry about for years to come. This is a service best left to a professional with the proper tools and trained eyes to recognize problems and keep your vent clear.
The Dryer Vent Cleaning Process
Dryer vent cleaning, when performed by a professional, involves a set of steps that the average homeowner may glaze over or be ill-equipped to handle. There are actually several ways one can go about cleaning a dryer vent, one of which involves simply using a flexible rotating brush that connects to a vacuum. The brush angles to reach every nook and cranny of the dryer vent while a powerful vacuum collects any debris therein. This is important because it not only prevents fire hazards, but your dryer also performs better when there is less blockage, improving efficiency and reducing the need for repairs or replacement parts.
Finally comes the inspection. This is another portion of the process that can be done incorrectly if you examine the vents with an untrained eye. A skilled technician measures the airflow of the dryer vent with a digital airflow meter before and after the cleaning to make sure that the airflow has increased. These tools are often unavailable to amateurs or can be costly and difficult to use.
Don’t trust the fate of your home to just anyone.
Put your confidence in dryer vent cleaning experts, like the people at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. For dryer vent cleaning in Ramsey, Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS
Why Dryer Vent Cleaning Is Important
Friday, May 23rd, 2014Whenever you place laundry into a clothes dryer, what’s one of the important steps to take? Clean out the lint trap, of course. Without this air passage kept clear in the dryer, the machine will heat far less efficiently and end up making clothes damp instead of dry, all while draining the same amount of power.
However, the lint trap isn’t the only part of your clothes dryer that requires cleaning. The dryer has a ventilation system to the outside to prevent extra heat from entering your home, as well removing other debris plucked from the clothes. The dryer vent needs to stay clean, and with regular visit from specialists, you’ll have a dryer that runs without draining power, gets your clothes dry, and… most important of all… won’t create a fire hazard.
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. does more than chimney sweeping and restoration. We handle dryer vent cleaning to take care of lint and the exhaust hose. When you’re looking for top people for dryer vent cleaning in the Twin Cities, MN, make us your first call.
Why dryer vent cleaning is necessary
Before we get to anything else, we want to share a frightening statistic: According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 15,000 house fires occur every year because of obstructions inside dryer vents. The lint from clothing is highly combustible, and once enough gathers in the vent hose between a dryer and the outside of a house, it doesn’t take much heat to cause it to ignite. It’s vital for the safety of your home and family to have the dryer vent clean of flammable material.
The safety issue is enough reason to schedule dryer vent cleaners, but there are other advantages as well. Basic energy efficiency increases with a clear passage, the same way that a clean air filter makes for a more efficient air conditioning system. Lack of venting of moist air from the dryer means the moisture trapped inside with the clothes makes it harder for them to lose additional heat. You can expect your clothes to keep coming out damp, no matter how high you run the dryer. (Damp clothes are a good warning sign that you must have the dryer vent cleaned.)
How often should I clean the dryer vent and how do I do it?
The frequency that a dryer vents needs cleaning varies. When you notice damp clothes or the need to run the dryer for longer, or if the top surface of the dryer becomes extremely hot, then you are due for cleaning. If you don’t recall ever cleaning the vent before, then it’s definitely time to take care of it. In general, get into the habit of having cleaning twice a year.
Instead of spending hours trying to access and clean your dryer vents, call 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. and schedule a dryer vent cleaning in the Twin Cities, MN.
Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning in Edina MN
Monday, December 17th, 2012You may not think about the air ducts in your home that distribute heated and cooled air throughout the building. However, the condition of this ductwork system is a very important component in the successful operation of your heating and air conditioning system. There are a lot of different scenarios in which the condition your air ducts may be compromised, resulting in issues with your heating and air conditioning systems. One such scenario is the buildup of dirt, debris and other pollutants in your ductwork. 2nd Generation Chimneys understands these issues and would like to explain to you some of the benefits of air duct cleaning in Edina.
Your air ducts are responsible for distributing all of the heated and cooled air throughout your home. If dirt and debris have built up in your air ducts these pollutants can also be distributed throughout your entire home, reducing air quality in every room that should benefit from your heating and air conditioning system. There is no way for homeowners to know what the condition inside their air ducts is, let alone to thoroughly clean them. With professional duct cleaning services, though, your service provider can use the specialized tools and years of experience necessary to ensure that your air ducts are clean enough to provide you with the fresh air you deserve.
Not only can dirty air ducts adversely affect the quality of the air that you breathe, they can also reduce the efficiency with which you heater and air conditioner work. Severe buildup can cause increased air flow resistance, and the accumulation of pollutants and even mold on your HVAC equipment can compromise the components of the system themselves.
Do not let dirty air ducts put your health – or your wallet – at risk. Start improving indoor air quality and efficiency today. Contact 2nd Generation Chimneys to reap the benefits of air duct cleaning in Edina.
Minneapolis Tip: Why Your Dryer Vents Need to be Cleaned
Monday, October 29th, 2012When your dryer buzzes to let you know that it has finished drying your clothes, do you always remember to change the dryer filter? We do most of the time. But what about all of the lint that that doesn’t get trapped by the filter? That lint gets sent out through your dryer vent to the outside. Over time, that lint can build up and start to clog your dryer vents. When that happens, a whole bunch of things can potentially happen to your dryer. In this blog post, we explore some of the reasons why you should have your dryer vents cleaned in Minneapolis.
Safety
This may come as a shock to some people, but each year there are approximately 15,000 house fires resulting from dryer lint. As your vents become more and more clogged with lint, it gets closer and closer to the heating element inside your dryer. Lint is extremely flammable and when it gets too hot or if it touches that heating element, it can ignite very quickly. Proper cleaning of your dryer vents could potentially reduce the chance that you experience a fire in your home as a result of dryer lint.
Faster Dry Times
The dryer vent is your dryer’s exhaust vent. If it becomes clogged with lint, it can’t let out of the moisture that it is removing from you clothes. With much of that moisture staying inside your dryer, the dryer will have to run longer to get your clothes dry. With proper cleaning, you can make sure that your dryer continues to operate as efficiently and as quickly as possible.
More Efficient
When your dryer’s vents become clogged, it has to work harder to push the air and moisture out. This increases the energy demand from your dryer and lowers its efficiency. Cleaning your dryer’s vents regularly will keep it operating and peak efficiency and keep your utility bills in check.
Longer Dryer Life
If you dryer has to work harder to dry your clothes and force the exhaust air through a clogged vent, it will put a lot of strain on your dryer’s fan. This extra stress can cause it to wear out faster than normal. With regular maintenance, you may be able to extend the life of your dryer.
If you have any questions about your dryer or your dryer’s venting system, give the professionals at 2nd Generation Chimney today. We’ve been offering fast and reliable dryer services in Minneapolis for many years.