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We Can Also Clean Your Dryer Vent

by | 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 PreventableWe Can Also Clean Your Dryer Vent - Jacksonville FL - Hudson Chimney

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.

Why Are My Clothes Drying So Slow?

by | Mar 12, 2017 | dryer vents

When your bought and installed your clothes dryer it should have worked great, drying clothes in one cycle, and since then it has declined. Many would attribute this change to age or “wear and tear”, but it’s actually more than that. If your clothes dryer is taking more than one cycle to dry an appropriately sized load of clothes, then there is a problem with your dryer. The most common reasons for a dryer failing to do the job it’s supposed to do is a heat element burning out or a ventilation issue.

Trouble Shooting Your Clothes Dryer

If you think your clothes dryer is working poorly, then you can check it out before calling in a professional.

  1. First, you should feel the dryer during and after a cycle. If the dryer is warm, then the heat element is working. If the dryer is warming up the area around it, even heating up the room where it’s located, then you most likely have a venting issue. A dryer is designed to vent excess heat. It shouldn’t add heat to the home if the vent hose is working.
  2. Check the vent flap on the outside of the house to make sure it is venting. Hold a hand in front of it to feel for warm air, make sure it opens as it should and is not clogged with lint or other debris.
  3. Remove the lint “trap” and wash it with warm, soapy water. Let it air dry, and return it to the dryer. This should be repeated monthly and will mostly help even if it doesn’t resolve the problem completely.

If your clothes continue to dry slower than they should, you can assume the dryer vent is clogged. Clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of house fires in the United States, accounting for 2900 house fires per year. This number is decreasing, but will remain a problem until clothes dryer safety is taken as seriously as chimney safety. Most homeowners don’t even know that local codes regulate how the dryer vent is installed, how many turns it can make, how long it is, and more. Most wouldn’t know there’s a problem with the clothes dryer at all because we assume it’s normal for dryers to take more cycles as they get older. This isn’t the case.

Click here for tips to protect your home from your clothes dryer, and call Hudson Chimney to have it cleaned regularly. Hudson Chimney specializes in dryer vent cleaning as part of a full menu of services designed to keep our customers safe. Find out how we can help you.