When you’re doing your annual spring cleaning, and you pull out the washer and dryer to sweep behind it and retrieve socks and other items that have fallen back there, do you also see a lot of lint and dust? Where does it all come from? I thought all the lint was caught by the lint screen which I clean after each load of laundry! Well, if there is a large pile of lint behind the dryer, think how much could be built-up and trapped in the dryer ducts that should have went outdoors through the dryer vent.
Cleaning the lint screen after each load of laundry is very important, but it is just a start. Some lint escapes the screen and goes out through the dryer ducts and vent. Unfortunately, some of the lint does not make it all the way outdoors; it becomes trapped in the dryer ducts where it eventually builds up and causes problems with air-flow which is necessary for the dryer to function properly.
The dryer vent system removes heat, moisture and lint from your clothing and vents it outdoors. Some dryer vent systems are very efficient; however, all can become trapped with lint build-up over time. As moist lint sticks to the sides of your dryer duct, more lint is attracted to this area and it builds up. As the lint dries, it forms a hard crust; therefore, it becomes trapped here, and reduces air flow. The reduced air flow just allows more lint to build up; without proper air flow, the lint will not be able to travel the entire length of your duct to the vent outdoors.
As lint continues to build up and air flow is restricted, heat and moisture cannot escape from the dryer drum. This is the reason your dryer can be taking two or three cycles to properly dry a load of clothes. The dryer is working much harder to complete its task; therefore, using more energy. When an appliance is overworked, it is most likely to break down. In the case of extreme lint build-up, you will be lucky if your only problem is a broken-down clothes dryer.
Lint is highly flammable; if a dryer continues to operate when the ducts are clogged with lint, it can start a fire that will burn very hot and spread very quickly. You can get special equipment for cleaning out your dryer duct system, or have a professional come in once a year to do a good cleaning. The service fee for dryer vent cleaning is minimal compared to the cost of your home and all you could lose in a fire. A clean dryer vent system will allow the clothes dryer to operate more efficiently, without being overworked; therefore you will save on energy bills and avoid expensive appliance repair bills.
This article was written by Emilie Benvegna, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Charlotte, North Carolina. With years of experience in the construction industry, Emilie and her husband, Jim provides dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation services homes and businesses in Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, Davidson, Concord, Huntersville, Pineville, Cornelius, Salisbury, and neighboring cities and communities.
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