It's been more than a year since you last cleaned your dryer vent in Baltimore, Maryland. The hot, humid air produced when drying clothes leaves your home through the dryer's vent hose. Over time, lint accumulates in the hose and in the lint collector, reducing the efficiency of your machine and increasing the humidity in your home. A dirty dryer vent hose can even cause a fire.
If you haven't done it recently, it's time to clean the dryer vent. Do you know the signs that indicate it's time to clean your dryer vent? If drying takes longer than usual, clothes get hot, smell burnt, or you haven't done it recently, these are all signs that you should clean the dryer vent. If you smell a burning smell when you use the dryer, it's probably lint. The lint in the dryer is very flammable and the smell of burning comes from small parts of the fluff in the dryer trap or hose that get very hot.
The fluff can even get so hot that it catches fire. If anything near the dryer smells of burning, turn off the appliance until it is inspected by a professional. If your clothes aren't dry at the end of a normal drying cycle, this could be another sign that you need to have the dryer vent hose checked for lint. No matter how diligently you clean the lint filter, it will eventually reach the vent and begin to clog the system. If you've tried to clean the dryer's ventilation system and you're still having problems, you may need to repair or replace the ventilation grille. As with warm clothes, a very hot laundry when you turn on the dryer could be a sign that lint is trapped in the system and causes the dryer to overheat.
You'll definitely need to clean the dryer's ventilation grille regularly to avoid any adverse incident, such as a fire. Also, you can't thoroughly clean dryer vents with some types of household kits, and you could damage them by accident. If you have a large family or if your dryer is in the center of your house and has a long duct or hose that faces outside, then you may need to clean your dryer's ventilation system more than once a year. Plastic ducts are usually made of vinyl and are usually cheaper than other types of dryer vent pipes. If you see pieces of fluff accumulating where the ventilation grille comes out of your house, this is an indication that it's time to clean your ventilation system. If there is lint or debris around or coming out of the opening, then it's time to inspect and clean your dryer vent. Cleaning your dryer vent is essential for keeping your home safe and efficient.
If drying takes longer than usual, clothes get hot or smell burnt, or if there is a burning smell near your appliance, it's time to inspect and clean your dryer vent. Regularly cleaning your lint filter won't be enough; eventually lint will reach your vent and clog it up. If this happens, call a professional to inspect and clean your vents as soon as possible.
