DRYER DUCT CLEANING

Dryer vent cleaning is necessary to ensure that line of ductwork is clear of debris such as highly flammable dryer lint or other debris to reduce the risk of fire. If your dryer is not drying clothes properly, there are a couple of things you can do before calling a  professional. First of all identify where your dryer vents to the outside and check for obvious clogs in the vent. This may not be so easy if you’re living in an apartment or townhome, but we have some advice for you too.

Have you ever noticed the tube coming from the back of your dryer? Wondering where that goes? Do you have a vent on the outside that you’re not sure of the purpose? It’s probably your dryer vent. The heat builds up in the dryer and has to have a place to vent. It’s also the place excess dryer lint goes when you don’t clean the filter after every use. If you can locate this ductwork and follow it to where it vents to the outside, you can visually inspect the elements to see if you need a cleaning. This will be easier to check in a single dwelling home than an apartment or townhome, but it is not impossible. 

First make sure your duct work is free of tears or disconnection. A disconnected line is the easiest thing to identify and fix. It is just what it sounds like: your ductwork line has disconnected somewhere along the line. A disconnected or downed duct line is not the end of the world. Just reconnect the duct line. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is replace the duct with a longer tube as this is the reason most of the duct lines become disconnected in the first place. Disconnects must be repaired before any professional cleaning is done. 

Disconnects are often the first sign of trouble with apartment or multi-dwelling style home such as town houses or apartments.  This is because this style of dwelling often vent their dryer lines up through an attic space which can make it difficult to locate the downed ductwork. These spaces should be inspected regularly to make sure everything is connected. Disconnected duct lines can lead to a buildup of highly flammable dryer lint in enclosed spaces, a serious fire risk.

A rip or tear in a line may also be responsible. Tears in the ductwork can usually be fixed temporarily with electrical tape, but need to be replaced as soon as possible.  Replacing the duct is not a big deal either since these flexible ducts are readily available and not expensive. Downed or torn ducts can cause other problems such as water damage when water pools in the excess space or mold from the cold air escaping. These are usually signs something is going on with your ductwork.