by Mark Hudson | Apr 16, 2019 | Dryer Vent Cleaning, dryer vents
Many homeowners don’t realize all the work that goes into maintaining a home properly. Every appliance, every surface, and every system that keeps the home running smoothly requires routine maintenance to continue doing so. The systems that keep your home cool and warm, keep water out of your living space, clean your air, wash your clothes and dishes, discharge your sewage water, and dry your clothes all require maintenance. Neglecting home maintenance can lead to damage, a decrease in value, and even danger in some circumstances. Neglecting the dryer vent can lead to a clogged dryer vent which can lead to a dryer vent fire that can lead to a devastating house fire. 
Dirty Dryer Vents = Danger
Every year in America, nearly 3000 homes experience a fire that originates in the clothes dryer. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, of these 2,900 fires, there are 5 resulting deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss each year. The cause of these fires? The majority of these fires are caused by failure to clean the dryer. This includes the dryer vent, the lint trap, and the unit itself. Over time dangerous, flammable lint collects inside the unit and hinders the dryer from working properly. Like chimneys, a drop in efficiency in the clothes dryer can increase the risk of damage and danger. Don’t put your home at risk. Schedule a dryer vent cleaning with a professional today.
100 Percent Preventable
The majority of clothes dryer fires can be prevented by cleaning the unit and the vent on a regular basis. Even scheduling this service annually will make a significant difference in the function and safety of your dryer. You can prevent a dangerous clothes dryer fire in your home by following these easy guidelines:
- Have the dryer and dryer vent professionally installed
- Clean the back of the dryer regularly
- Self-inspect the dry vent regularly
- Check the outside wall damper for proper function and covering regularly
- Check that the outdoor vent covering opens and closes properly regularly
- Schedule professional services for your clothes dryer vent annually
- Schedule a check-up with your gas company annually (if your dryer is gas-powered)
- Connect the unit only with the proper electrical cord and outlet
- Never run the clothes dryer while you’re out of the home or asleep
Last, but not least: make sure each level of your home has a smoke alarm! Change the batteries quarterly, and check the device monthly. If anything goes wrong with your clothes dryer system (or any other system in your home), a smoke alarm can save your life and the life of your family.
At Hudson Chimney it is our goal and duty to keep families safe by providing necessary services to our friends and neighbors in and around Jacksonville, Florida. Schedule dryer vent cleaning and installation with Hudson Chimney. Call us at 904-282-4159 or contact us online.
by Mark Hudson | Dec 31, 2018 | Dryer Vent Cleaning
Dryer vents cause house fires. In fact, according to FEMA , 2,900 house fires occur each year due to clothes dryers, causing 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. These numbers can be scary, and even more so when you realize when these fires occur–and why. Most clothes dryer fires occur in winter, peaking in January, and the majority of them are caused from dirty dryer vents.
100 Percent Preventable
When it comes to clothes dryer fires, they are preventable. When the majority of these fires are caused by dirty vents, the prevention is obvious–clean the dryer vents. This is where we come in. A company like Hudson Chimney, which specializes in venting services including dryer vent services, can clean dryer vents annually to prevent dangerous buildup. Spending a little money now can prevent catastrophic costs and injuries later.
What a Dryer Vent Service Includes
Your dryer vent services will start with a diagnostic check. Many dryer vents are improperly installed, violating fire safety codes and causing your clothes dryers to be overworked, wearing them out and using extra utilities. When you schedule dryer vent services we’ll check out the installation, making sure the vent isn’t too long and doesn’t have too many angles. We’ll also make sure the dryer vent is venting outdoors and has a backdraft flap preventing airflow from wind gusts and air pressure. During the visit, we will also check for leaks that can slow airflow and add to build up. Our technicians will detach the vent from the dryer and clean lint out of the vent or hose with soft brushes and a high powered vacuuming system. This will clean out the system without damaging the vent itself.
Signs You Need a Dryer Vent Cleaning
Your dryer vent most likely needs to be cleaned if your clothes dryer isn’t working properly. Most homeowners mistakenly assume the clothes dryer is just fine, but wearing out. This is generally not the case.
–The dryer takes more than one cycle to dry a load of clothes.
According to manufacturers, the dryer should last ten years. If it fails to dry clothes in one cycle and is less than 5 years old, the dryer vent is likely clogged. Not only does running multiple cycles add to the clog, but it also uses 2 to 3 times more electricity, and shortens its life by 2 to 3 times! That means a unit that should last 10 years only lasts 3-5 instead. This is not only dangerous, but a bad investment.
–The dryer puts heat and moisture into the home.
When your dryer runs, it heats the house, or puts moisture into the air. This may be nice in winter–seemingly helping with heating costs–but it is dangerous. Most clothes dryer fires occur in January! This is not the time to allow a dryer to run dangerously in your home. It the dryer heats or puts moisture in the home, it means this heat and moisture isn’t being properly vented outdoors. This means there is a clog.
The time to schedule dryer services is as soon as you notice a problem with the dryer function. Call a professional who can assess and correct the situation before a dangerous accident occurs.
Schedule dryer vent cleaning or installation with Hudson Chimney today.
by Mark Hudson | Nov 15, 2018 | Dryer Vent Cleaning
At Hudson Chimney, we take your safety seriously. Fire safety goes further than just your fireplace and furnace. It’s also important to maintain your clothes dryer vents. Clean dryer vents prevent fires, improve function, and save you money.
Signs You Need Dryer Service
If your clothes dryer was not installed professionally, it’s likely not working at its maximum efficiency. Only a professional knows the ins and outs of fire safety codes, both federal and local. They will certainly know about the safety of your vents. Many homeowners mistakenly assume a store delivery is an installation. This is not true, and it will put your family at risk. If you haven’t had your vent professionally cleaned or installed, call now and schedule these services. Other signs maybe present because of normal wear-and-tear, but these issues actually needs your attention.
- The dryer warms up the house. If your dryer causes your house to warm up or is hot to the touch, the heat isn’t being carried outside as it should. This may cause your clothes to be excessively hot.
- Moisture and lint cover surfaces in the laundry room. Moisture, lint, and heat should all be carried out of the house through the dryer vents. However, if there is a clog, the lint and moisture enters the air and affect the breathable air to damage wall coverings and furniture.
- It takes more than one cycle to dry a load of clothes. Manufacturers say new clothes dryers should last about ten years. If yours requires more than one cycle and less than three years old, it has clogged vents.
Wasted Money, Dangerous Hazard
A clogged vent presents a hazard every single day your dryer is in use, and it also wastes money! When your dryer takes 2-3 cycles to dry properly, it costs you 2-3 times more electricity and shortens the life of the dryer by 3-5 years. By assuming the dryer is worn out, homeowners use the dryer every day as if it’s fine, which put your home and family at risk. Instead, you should have your dryer installed professionally, in compliance with safety codes, and professionally serviced annually.
At Hudson Chimney, we’re committed to offering dryer vent services to protect families, businesses, and the environment in our service area. We check your vent for leaks, make sure the outlet is back-draft protected, and use a high-powered vacuuming system to remove all lints and debris from your system.
For more information visit www.dryersafety.org or call a professional at Hudson Chimney–where we don’t just service chimneys, but dryer vents and more. Not sure we have what you’re looking for? Call for more information at 904-282-4159.
by Mark Hudson | Jan 23, 2018 | Dryer Vent Cleaning
Even if your Christmas list didn’t include home maintenance, there is time to start on the right foot. You can save money this year, and improve your household safety, when you start the year off with a clean dryer vent.
Why Clean the Dryer Vent?
- Prevent Fires
There are 2,900 home clothes dryer fires reported each year, causing around 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. In fact, failing to clean the clothes dryer is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires. These fires happen more in January than any other month, and when they happen during the night, the family is less likely to escape unscathed. The best way to prevent devastating fires is to keep the dryer vent clean.
- Raise Efficiency
The average homeowner doesn’t realize that a clothes dryer is designed to last 10 years, and designed to dry a load in ONE CYCLE. If your dryer takes more than one cycle to dry a normal-sized unit, there is a problem with the appliance. The most common problem is a dirty/clogged dryer vent. Not only is it a fire hazard, but it wastes electricity and shortens the life of the appliance!
- Save Money
If your dryer takes 2 or 3 cycles to completely dry a load of clothes, your dryer will only last 3-5 years when it should last ten. It will use 2-3 times more electricity and will cause other issues with your home year-round.
- Damage to Home Interior
When the dryer vent is clogged and efficiency drops, heat and moisture can push into your house. Many homeowners assume it is normal for your dryer to produce heat, and it does—but it should escape by way of the vent! There is a problem with the dryer vent if your dryer feels hot to the touch, heats the room where it’s installed, or causes condensation in the home. Condensation and heat inside your house can cause wallpaper and paint to buckle.
Call a Professional Today
Most homeowners buy a large appliance like a clothes dryer and has it delivered. This is not a professional installation and does not mean it’s ready to use. Only a professional knows there are the manufacturer and local codes that affect the way your dryer is installed. In some cases, these specifications will determine whether or not your appliance is covered by its warranty.
- The dryer duct should be 4 inches or more
- The dryer vent should be less than 25 feet
- Dryer vents should be independent systems and terminate outside
- The dryer vent termination hood should prevent backdrafts
- Metal transition ducts should be used between the dryer and the exhaust duct
- Flexible transition ducts are not safe for use in attics, crawlspaces, or inside walls
These safety standards are for safety and efficiency. Taking care of your dryer vent now, starts the year off right. Make sure your family is safe from a dryer vent fire, and save money in 2018.
Contact Us
Call Hudson Chimney at 904-282-4159, and ask an expert about dryer vent services today.
by Mark Hudson | Jul 12, 2016 | Dryer Vent Cleaning
One of the biggest signs that you have a clogged clothes dryer vent is when it takes more than one cycle to completely dry one load of clothes. If you have noticed that it is taking your clothes longer to dry, you should contact us at Hudson Chimney to schedule an appointment for our professional dryer vent cleaning services. Not only does a dirty dryer vent cause your dryer to not work as well as it should, it also creates a dangerous fire hazard. According to the US Fire Administration, 2,900 clothes dryer fires were reported each year between 2008 and 2010, and these fires resulted in approximately five deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property losses. Most of these fires started due to dirty and clogged dryer vents. This is why many national fire safety organizations recommend that homeowners have their dryer vent system professionally cleaned at least once a year. This service will also save you money on utility bills because you will not have to run your dryer twice as long to dry your clothes. We would like to share some more clothes dryer safety tips to help you reduce this fire risk and prevent clothes dryer fires.
Never use your dryer without a lint filter.
Lint is so flammable that the Boy Scouts of America recommend using it to start campfires. Since your clothes dryer produces a lot of lint, you need the lint filter to collect as much of it as possible. You should always clean the lint filter before or after each load. Although this does trap a lot of lint, your vent will still have loose lint that accumulates over time. When lint builds up enough to block the vent, you could easily have a dryer fire since the excessive heat from the dryer can ignite lint.
Be sure your vent is made from the right material.
For proper air flow, your vent should be constructed from rigid or flexible metal venting material. You also should ensure that the air exhaust vent pipe has no restrictions. The vent flap on the outside of your home should open when your dryer is in use.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Read the owner’s manual for your clothes dryer, and do not overload your dryer with too many clothes. Check the plug for your dryer and be sure it is plugged into the right type of outlet. If you have a gas-powered dryer, it should be inspected annually to ensure the gas line and connection have no leaks.
If you have damp clothes at the end of one drying cycle, your dryer vent is most likely clogged. Contact us at Hudson Chimney to schedule an appointment for our professional dryer vent cleaning services.
