How Does My Dryer Vent Work?

Have you noticed that your clothes are still damp at the end of a drying cycle? This is a clear sign of a clogged and dirty dryer vent. Not only does a clogged dryer vent cause your clothes dryer to work less efficiently, but it is also a dangerous fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were approximately 15,970 residential fires that were related to clothes dryers between 2010 and 2014. These fires resulted in an average of 13 deaths, 444 injuries, and $238 million in property damage each year. The NFPA recommends a professional dryer vent cleaning every year as a preventative measure. If you live in the Upstate South Carolina area, Chim Cheree provides professional dryer vent cleaning services from certified technicians. We would like to tell you more about how a dryer vent works and what you can expect from our professional dryer vent cleaning services.

How Does a Dryer Vent Work?

When your dryer is on, air is constantly circulating throughout the machine. Your dryer has a hole on the front where air enters and flows to the heating element. This element heats up the air before flowing into the tumbler of your dryer to dry your clothes. The next destination for the heated air is the lint screen. Once the air is drawn into the lint screen, it travels down a duct in front of the dryer to the fan. The fan then forces the air out of your home through the exhaust vent. Problems occur when lint accumulates and builds up inside the air duct. This can cause your dryer to quickly overheat. Since lint is highly flammable, this is why a clogged dryer vent is such a fire hazard. The extremely high temperatures produced inside the vent can be enough to ignite any lint accumulations and start a dryer fire.

What Can I Expect From a Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning From Chim Cheree The Chimney Specialists?

First, our certified technicians must move your dryer away from the wall. Next, we attach a high-powered vacuum to the vent. As this vacuum is blowing into the vent, we will use specialized tools, such as a rotating brush on a rod, to scrub away the lint and other debris from the inside of the air duct of your dryer. Once we are finished cleaning the vent, we will move your dryer back into place.

After your dryer vent has been professionally cleaned, you will notice that your dryer works much more effectively, which saves you both money and energy. Contact us today at Chim Cheree The Chimney Specialists to schedule an appointment for your annual professional dryer vent cleaning.