The Danger of Skipping Your Dryer Vent Cleaning

3 Common Questions About Dryer Vents

When it comes to air dryer vents, there are a lot of questions that homeowners and business owners have. Check out these Common Questions About Pleasant Hill dryer vents to see if you’re wondering the same things.

Do you have questions about dryer vent cleaning and why you need a professional vent cleaner? Some people don’t realize that the vent is different from the lint trap. But even if you understand the difference, it’s easy to forget that a dryer needs to be serviced too. So, these are answers to the 3 questions we hear the most often. Let’s dive right in!

1) Why do I need my dryer vent cleaned? I clean the lint trap all the time.

While cleaning the lint trap is also important, a vent cleaner will get to those hard-to-reach places that you may not even be aware of. Did you know that the dryer vent is actually a tube that connects to the back of your dryer? All of that hot humid air inside your dryer needs a way to escape.

One of the top reasons to schedule your Pleasant Hill dryer vents cleaning is that when enough lint accumulates it can become a fire hazard. Regular maintenance will also keep your appliance functioning properly and extend its lifetime.

2) My dryer vent is connected to the outside wall, so do I still need your services?

If a dryer vent from the back of the appliance directly to an exterior wall, the vent probably needs less frequent cleanings. However, if the venting system has multiple elbows, most certainly it will require much more frequent service from a professional Pleasant Hill dryer vents. This is because each elbow slows the venting process. As particles move more through the system, there is more accumulation with this design.

Additionally, households who have people with long hair or pets that shed will also need their venting system cleaned more frequently. Households that use dryer sheets need more maintenance too, as the dryer sheets leave a sticky residue in the venting system.

3) I have never cleaned my dryer vent and it seems just fine, should I worry?

Your dryer may seem like it’s working fine, but if you’ve never scheduled an appointment with a Pleasant Hill dryer vents cleaner, definitely have a specialist inspect your dryer as soon as possible. Essential home maintenance like dryer vent cleaning can actually save you money by preventing the need for repairs to your appliance, not to mention the fire risk of skipping regular appointments.

Some reasons to schedule a dryer vent cleaning:

Shorter drying times
Lower monthly energy bills
Skipping dryer maintenance is a dangerous fire risk
Save money: Clogged dryer vents put a lot of wear and tear on the appliance, leading to a higher risk of a breakdown.

Signs You Need Dryer Vent Cleaning

The dryer gets hot to the touch
Laundry takes longer and longer to dry
There’s lint behind the dryer

Talk to a Professional Pleasant Hill Dryer Vents

At The Irish Sweep, we have the experience you need for such an important job. If you’re in the Alameda area, give us a call at (510) 521-4088. We’re happy to answer any questions you have about dryer or fireplace safety in your home. You can also view our customer testimonials by clicking this link.

Tips on Having Your Dryer Vents Cleaned

When was the last time you had your Danville dryer vents cleaned? Read Article about Tips on Having Your Dryer Vents Cleaned by a Professional

If it’s been a while, don’t put this essential home maintenance off any longer. Did you know that a clogged dryer vent that accumulates lint is actually a fire hazard? Dirty dryer vents start thousands of fires each year in the United States. Here are some basics you need to know about Danville dryer vent maintenance.

A Messy Chore

It’s a messy chore, but someone has to do it. At the bare minimum, your Alameda dryer vents should be cleaned out on a yearly basis to keep the appliance working at peak performance. This is especially true if some of the occupants of the house have long hair or if there are pets in the home that shed. Also did you know that dryer sheets leave a sticky residue inside the vent and, of course, the lint from the dryer is prone to sticking to that residue.

There are some common signs to watch out for, such as a burning smell, clothes that just won’t seem to dry no matter how long you leave it running, and also a dryer that becomes hot to the touch.

Cleaning Your Alameda Dryer Vents

First things first, a professional will disconnect your dryer before getting to work. Whether it’s gas or electric, it can simply be unplugged from the outlet, so know that we don’t need to touch the gas supply valve. The vent can be found at the back of the dryer, and the exhaust should always vent to the outside atmosphere. A professional will then pull the appliance about a foot away from the wall so they can access the vent and the area behind the dryer. After a pro has taken these steps, they will disconnect the vent connector from the dryer and the vent. If the vent connector is made from plastic or other flammable material, it will be replaced with an all-metal, non-combustible option.

Wearing protective gloves, they will then clean out all the lint from the back of the dryer by hand, and then use a brush with a series of rods to brush the lint from the interior venting ductwork. Once completed, a leaf blower will be attached to the vent and all loose debris will be cleared to finish the job. And finally, the exterior vent cover will also be removed and cleaned out before the dryer is reconnected for use.

Schedule a Danville Dryer Vents Cleaning

A professional will also be able to make sure that everything is up to code and doesn’t need to be replaced. Your safest option is always to call an expert who can make sure your dryer isn’t a fire hazard. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also a risk if a dryer isn’t installed correctly, or maintained over the years.

At The Irish Sweep, we have the experience you need for such an important job. If you’re in the Alameda area, give us a call at (510) 521-4088. We’re available to answer any questions you have about dryer or fireplace safety in your home. You can also view our customer testimonials by clicking this link.

10 Dangerous Signs Your Dryer Vent Is Clogged

Under normal conditions, a dryer vent is supposed to direct the heat away from your dryer, but sometimes dryers stop functioning properly. This is when they can break down, or even become a fire hazard. Keep in mind that regular dryer vent cleaning helps to prevent these issues. With that said, here are 10 Dryer Vent Warning Signs that you may have on your hands.

1) Longer Drying Times

If you’ve noticed that drying times are becoming increasingly longer than usual, this is a sure sign that your vents are getting clogged. What happens is that lint fiber gradually collects in these vents and slowly builds up over time. When the air is restricted by this buildup of debris, it will cause your machine to trap more moisture on the inside. These vents will need a professional cleaning in order for the drying time to return to normal. Without proper maintenance, this can lead to the need for an expensive replacement.

2) Heating Issues

Heating issues can also be a problem if you don’t schedule regular dryer vent cleaning. This can cause your machine to become so hot while it’s in use that it can damage your clothes. As a result, synthetic fabrics, like nylon, acrylic, and polyester, can even start to melt. But the biggest danger comes from a dryer that overheats so much that it causes a fire. Issues with the heating element can also result in the eventual failure of your machine.

Of course, another concern is pulling clothes out of a dryer that are still hot to the touch. Often they can feel slightly damp and can cause steam burns if they’re too hot to handle. This is a serious sign that tells you it’s time to book a professional dryer vent cleaning.

3) Overheating Shutdown Problems

Clothing dryers are designed to have a built-in switch that is triggered if the motor senses it’s becoming overheated. A blocked dryer vent limits the airflow to the point that it will start tripping the machine, making it stop so it has enough time to cool down. If you don’t know this, there can be a bigger issue when you simply restart the appliance before it’s cool enough to safely operate. If the dryer continues to overheat, there’s a risk for an electrical fire, caused by the motor becoming too hot. As you can imagine, this is a dangerous situation.

4) Mold or Mildew Smells

Since lint is mostly cotton fiber, it will act as a sponge for moisture. The levels can become higher as hot, moist air tries to push through a blockage. This moisture isn’t able to effectively dry out and can become a hidden, moldy mess. The smell of mold and mildew can spread inside your venting tube and cause odors that get into the clothes you place in the dryer. Laundry should smell clean and fresh, so this moldy odor can be confusing.

5) A Burnt Smell

If you notice a burnt smell from your dryer, this is a dryer vent warning signs your dryer vent is clogged. When too much lint builds up inside the dryer, it will give off a weird burnt smell. Of course, it can also be a sign of a failing motor or belt. Be sure to remove your laundry from the machine and call a professional who can troubleshoot the source of the problem.

6) Crushed Dryer Hose

If you haven’t checked behind your dryer in a while—or ever, take a peek and make sure that the hoses between the wall and the dryer aren’t being pinched. This is an issue because the restricted airflow is a hazard. The company that handles your dryer vent cleaning can help resolve this situation.

7) Can Dryer Sheets Cause a Fire?

There have been some claims that fabric softener sheets can cause the heating element to fail in your dryer, increasing the threat of a fire. But is this really true? While there isn’t any evidence to back up this claim, liquid fabric softener can add to the flammability of certain fabrics.

8) Bird Nests

While it may not happen very often, birds sometimes are able to build a nest in termination hoods that are left uncovered. This is a problem that needs a quick fix. A professional can inspect your dryer as well as its setup to make sure everything is secure from wildlife using it as a nesting site.

9) Lack of Lint in the Trap

Dryers have a special trap that’s designed to collect the lint on your laundry. We all know that it needs to be cleaned out after each cycle, but what if there’s never any lint in the trap anymore? In this case, an obstruction is probably causing lint to become trapped in your machine. This can cause a fire, so be sure to call a specialist for a dryer vent cleaning as soon as possible.

10) Higher Electricity Bills

A rising utility bill is an unpleasant surprise. If you notice that your electricity costs are going up, your dryer may be to blame for the hike. When this appliance isn’t functioning properly, it has to work harder and use more wattage to dry your laundry. If there are blocks, the motor needs to try harder to make up for those air blockages. You’ll likely need to put your laundry through more than once to get it truly dry. The result is an unexpected increase in your monthly electric bill. Dryer maintenance will actually save you money in the long run.

Schedule a Dryer Vent Cleaning

If you notice any of these Dryer Vent Warning Signs, your safest option is always to call a professional who can make sure your dryer isn’t a fire hazard. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also a risk if a dryer isn’t installed correctly, or maintained over the years. At The Irish Sweep, we have the experience you need for such an important job. If you’re in the Alameda area, give us a call at (510) 521-4088. We’re available to answer any questions you have about dryer or fireplace safety in your home. You can also view our customer testimonials by clicking this link.

4 Tools You Should Have In Your Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit

Dryer Vent Cleaning Kits

If you choose to clean your own dryer vents, here are 4 tools your dryer vent cleaning kit should include.

Keeping your dryer exhaust vents clean is absolutely crucial for the safety of your household. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, the leading cause of dryer fires is the accumulation of lint, which is highly flammable.

It’s recommended to clean your dryer vents on a regular basis, at least once a year. Cleaning your dryer vents can also help maintain your dryer’s efficiency and save money on utility bills. Clothes taking longer to dry is a telltale sign that your dryer vent cleaning.

Dryer Lint Brush

This flexible but not very long brush comes in handy when the amount of lint accumulated in your dryer vent is not excessive. To clean deeper into the dryer vents, you’ll need to attach it to a nylon brush rod, which is fairly long.

Dryer Vent Vacuum

This is especially useful when your dryer vents are clogged due to excessive lint buildup. It works by sucking the lint and other debris out. Make sure the hose you attach to the vacuum is long enough and fits into your dryer vents.

Flexible Crevice Tool

This tool should be used together with the dryer vent vacuum. Thanks to its flexibility and angled tip, a long crevice tool helps you to access hard-to-reach, tight areas in your dryer vents.

Air Compressor

A powerful air compressor can help you remove lint a lot faster and easier, but it’s more expensive than other tools. It uses bursts of air to blow the lint out. You will need a good hose attachment to effectively use an air compressor for dryer vent cleaning kit.

Call a Professional Walnut Creek Dryer Vents

Even if you have these tools in your dryer vent cleaning kit, there is only one way to make sure your dryer vents are properly cleaned and the risk of fire is minimized. This is to have your dryer vents regularly inspected and cleaned by a certified Walnut Creek dryer vents cleaning expert in your area.

If you’re looking for professional dryer vent cleaning services in Alameda, Oakland, Concord, Lafayette CA, or surrounding areas, contact us. At The Irish Sweep, we can be reached by phone at (510) 521-4088 or by email at [email protected]. We are certified to clean dryer vents by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and adhere to multiple national standards.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Concord – What is C-DET?

If you’ve ever had your dryer vents professionally cleaned, you’ve most likely come across the phrase “C-DET certified.” In this guide, we explore the relationship between C-DET and dryer vent cleaning and explain exactly what C-DET means.

What is C-DET?

C-DET is the only nationally recognized certification for dryer vent cleaning. A C-DET, or Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician, is certified by the CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America). So, a C-DET is a specially trained technician that is qualified to recognize safety issues and potential problems with your dryer. C-DET and dryer vent cleaning are essential to ensure dryers in your home operate safely. Otherwise, your dryer poses a risk for house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

What Does a C-DET do?

C-DETs do a lot more than simply cleaning out a dryer vent – they have other responsibilities too, such as checking the dyer system and making sure it’s in compliance with all relevant codes and regulations. A C-DET takes into account the age of your dryer, and how frequently it’s used. This information helps to eliminate possible safety hazards.

Why Use a C-DET?

If you choose to hire a technician without a C-DET certification, you could be trusting your dry vent cleaning and analysis service to someone who is unqualified and inexperienced. When you work with a C-DET, you can have complete confidence that you hired someone with an expansive knowledge of dryers, as well as all the relevant codes and regulations. To become a CSIA C-DET, you must pass an extensive exam that covers everything from dryer maintenance to codes and regulations.

Why is C-DET Dryer Vents Cleaning Important?

• Improve the efficiency of your dryer

A clean dryer vent keeps your dryer functioning properly. When it’s clogged, it causes your appliance to work overtime. Clothes stay damp for longer, and your dryer deteriorates at a much faster rate than usual.

• Fire Safety

If your dryer is taking longer than usual to dry clothes, it may be running at a higher temperature. This can cause the heating element of your dryer to burn out. Not to mention this is one of the most common causes of house fires! Regular dryer maintenance by a C-DET ensures your dryer runs at a safe temperature.

C-DET and Dryer Vents Cleaning for You

Our mission is to educate and bring awareness to our customers regarding home safety. Maintain the optimum performance of your dryer, and secure your peace of mind, with a professional C-DET dryer vent cleaning from The Irish Sweep. Give us a call at (510) 521-4088.

The Danger of Skipping Your Dryer Vent Cleaning

Your dryer is probably not something you ever think about as long as it’s working properly. But dryer vent cleaning is a critical aspect of home maintenance. Read on to learn more about the danger of skipping this annual appointment.

What is a Dryer Vent?

We all know it’s important to clean the lint trap in the dryer door, but there’s a vent connector that leads to an outside vent and it also gets full of clothing fuzz. The problem with this is that heat escapes from your dryer. Dryer sheets exacerbate the issue because they leave sticky debris.

House Fires

When dryer vents become clogged with debris and lint, it restricts the airflow, and exhaust gases become trapped. Your dryer then has to work harder to create heat. Not only is this a nuisance because clothes stay damp, but it causes thousands of house fires each year.

Vent blockages can also force the deadly gas carbon monoxide to backup. This is especially dangerous because it’s odorless.

Pesky Invaders

A pest invasion isn’t as dramatic as a house fire, but too much lint can prevent your exterior dryer duct’s hood flap from closing all the way. This creates an entry point for birds or rodents looking for warmth and shelter. Cleaning your dryer vent will help keep your home free of critters. You can also consider installing a pest guard.

Your Energy Bill

A dryer that’s burdened with lint simply won’t function as well, which means higher monthly energy costs for you. It might not seem like much, but those extra dollars can add up over time.

Scheduling Your Dryer Vent Cleaning

The Irish Sweep has been in business since 1979. Our top priority remains safety, and we tailor services with our client’s best interest at heart. We hope you found this article informative. To schedule your dryer vent cleaning appointment today, give us a call at (510) 521-4088.