Affordable Dryer Vent Cleaning Services in Atlanta GA
Our dry vent cleaning services come with many benefits, such as lessening the possibility of fire, conserving energy to lower your electricity cost, and prolonging the dryer’s life. Knowing why it’s important to have your dryer vents cleaned, you need to decide which company to use. For dependable and Affordable Dryer Vent Cleaning Services in Atlanta GA, contact the staff at Hughes Dry. We are different from other dry vent cleaning companies because we are open and transparent about our prices and working methods and provide excellent client care. For more information or to schedule a dryer vent cleaning inspection, call right away!
Do you know what you probably have in your home or apartment that is annually responsible for around 15,000 fires, 20 deaths, over 300 injuries and more than $80 million in property damage?
Answer: Your clothes dryer. And if you have an electric clothes dryer, did you know the chance of fire is 250% greater than if you have a gas dryer?
There is probably an unbelievable amount of dangerous lint lining the walls of your dryer ducting and inside your dryer right now that you need to clean out. It does not matter that you regularly clean out the lint filter in your dryer, “lint happens.” Loads of clothes taking longer and longer to dry is a classic sign of lint build-up. Many people resort to ” do it yourself (diy) campaigns using dryer vent cleaning tools only to find they’ve gotten themselves into a bigger mess. People also wonder how long or how often they should be cleaned. Answer: Every year.
Let us take this task off your busy schedule!
Atlanta Dryer Vent Cleaning Facts
The most expensive appliance in the home to operate. Therefore, the more efficient it runs, the more the savings. 15, 500 Fires annually. There are more dryer vent fires than chimney fires (flammable lint, dirt, and dust accumulate quite rapidly since the screen does not catch it all). Recommended cleaning cycle is every 3-6 months depending on extent of use of dryer. Symptoms of clogged dryer vents include excessive humidity in laundry room and clothes take longer to dry.
Why should you clean your dryer vents?
An estimated 15,000 home fires each year are caused by dryer vents that are partially or completely clogged with lint. These fires could be easily prevented with a little preventative maintenance that Atlanta home owners can often do themselves. Lint is extremely flammable, so heat can build up in a dryer vent if the airflow is restricted which can cause the lint to ignite.
When airflow is restricted your dryer has to work harder and may take more than one cycle to dry clothes which uses more energy. The tumbling action of dryers is hard on clothes and if your dryer has to run longer to dry your clothes they are experiencing unnecessary wear and tear.
In Atlanta, most people clean their lint trap after every load of laundry. However, lint also accumulates in the duct work and vents between your dryer and where the hose vents to the outside. The vent, hose and duct work should be cleaned or at least inspected annually. To properly clean the duct work and hose the dryer needs to be disconnected from the hose and moved away from the wall so lint can be removed from the hose and any duct work which is within the walls, attic or basement of a home.
When to Call an Atlanta Dryer Vent Cleaning Company
Warning Signs
Although regular cleaning or at least inspection of your dryer vents is recommended, there are some indications that your vents need to be cleaned but always consult a professional dryer vent cleaner if you are not sure if your vents need to be cleaned.
The following are indications that lint may be restricting your dryer vent and you could be at risk of a fire:
– Clothes are taking longer than normal to dry
– Clothes seem hotter than usual at the end of a drying cycle
– The flapper on your exterior dryer vent doesn’t open when the dryer is on
Dryer Vent risk factors
Some people and certain dryer set ups create a greater risk of fire. If any of the following apply, you should consider inspecting or cleaning your dryer more frequently.
– your dryer lint trap does not fit snugly, a loose fit will allow more lint into the duct work.
– you have a flexible or plastic dryer vent hose.
– your dryer is located a long distance from the exterior dryer vent
– the route your dryer duct takes to get to the exterior dryer vent has a lot of bends
– you wash a lot of clothes that have been soiled with flammable materials such as gas, motor oil, cooking oil, wood stains, etc.
Below are some additional tips to prevent your dryer vents from becoming clogged
Use only metal duct work. Replace foil or plastic ducts with rigid or semi rigid duct work which promote better air flow, provide fewer areas for lint to accumulate and are less flammable.
Clean or replace the dryer vent hose (the flexible piece between the dryer and the wall) regularly
Do not operate a dryer without a lint filter in place
Clean the lint trap between each load of laundry
Wash lint screens with a mild liquid detergent every few weeks to remove residue from by fabric softeners
Ensure the outdoor vent flap can open freely (it can become restricted by snow, bushes, etc.)
Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a professional to ensure the gas line and all connections are secure and free of leaks
Make sure your dryers is properly grounded
Avoid overloading your dryer
Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions
Keep combustible chemicals away from your dryer
Do not store flammable items such as boxes or clothing near your dryer
Do not run your dryer when you are not home
Dryer ducts should be at least 4 inches in diameter
Ducts which are concealed within walls or the attic or basement of your home must be rigid metal type
All duct joints should be secured with metal tape, not just screws or rivets
Duct joints should be installed such that piece nearest the dryer is on the nside of the joint
Dryer vents should terminate outside your home (not into a chimney, another duct, the attic or the basement)
Install a screen on the outside vent of the dryer duct to prevent rodents and birds from entering the duct work which can reduce air