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How Does Alameda Dryer Vents Cleaning Work?

Of all the modern luxuries, clothes dryers are perhaps the most useful and convenient – until you open the lint trap and see two weeks’ worth of extremely combustible fluff. If you don’t take care of your dryer properly, it can become a fire hazard just waiting to happen: nearly 3000 dryer fires happen every year due to clogged dryer vents, costing an estimated $35 million in property loss, hundreds of injuries, and five deaths. Professional Alameda dryer vents cleaning is the best way to prevent dryer fires and extend the life of your appliance. So, how does Alameda dryer vents cleaning work? In this blog post, we’ll outline the process of Alameda dryer vents cleaning and our other pro tips for dryer safety and fire prevention.

Why Does My Dryer Need Professional Cleaning?

Your dryer vent is one of the most important parts of your dryer – and yet, it’s often one of the most neglected. Your dryer vent, exhaust duct, and lint trap collect lint every time you use your dryer. This is perfectly normal and should be expected – but it can also be dangerous if ignored. Over time, that lint can build up and cause problems.

Lint buildup reduces airflow, and reduced airflow causes your dryer to work harder and run for longer periods of time. This not only wastes energy but also puts unnecessary wear and tear on your appliance. As flammable lint continues to build up, it starts to block the exhaust vent. When this happens, hot air has nowhere to go but back into the dryer – and that’s when things start to get dangerous.

Here are just a few of the risks associated with a clogged Alameda dryer vents:

Risks of clogged or obstructed Alameda dryer vents include:

  • Dryer fires. When lint buildup in the dryer vent becomes too great, it can cause a fire. Dryer fires usually start with a spark from the heating element igniting lint in the exhaust duct.
  • Injuries. Dryer fires can cause injuries – even fatalities. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 30,500 dryer fires in the U.S. between 2012 and 2017. These fires resulted in 1040 injuries and sixty deaths.
  • Property damage. In addition to causing injuries, dryer fires can also cause property damage. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that dryer fires cause an average of $35 million in property damage each year.
  • Negative health effects. Clogged dryer vents can also cause negative health effects due to the buildup of carbon monoxide and other fumes. When these fumes are released into the home, they can cause respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness, and even death.
  • Mold and mildew growth. When humid air can’t escape, it leads to moisture buildup – and that moisture is the perfect environment for mold spores to thrive.
  • Increased energy bills. As we mentioned, lint buildup causes your dryer to work harder. This not only wastes energy but also drives up your utility bills.
  • Shortened dryer lifespan. All that extra work takes a toll on your dryer, causing it to break down prematurely.

So how can you prevent these risks and keep your dryer running safely and efficiently? The best way is to have your dryer vents professionally cleaned on an annual basis. Professional dryer vent cleaning involves clearing out the lint trap, exhaust duct, and vent – removing all the built-up lint that’s putting your dryer at risk.

How Does Alameda Dryer Vents Cleaning Work?

So – how does dryer vent cleaning work when you hire professionals? When you schedule professional Alameda dryer vents cleaning services, a technician will come to your home and thoroughly clear out your dryer’s lint trap, exhaust duct, and vent. 

Inspection. The technician will start by disconnecting your dryer from the power source and removing the exhaust cap from the outside of your home. Then, they will inspect your dryer, lint trap, exhaust duct, and vent to identify any potential hazards.

Lint trap cleaning. The first step is to clean out the lint trap. The technician will remove the lint screen and use a vacuum attachment to clear out all the built-up lint.

Exhaust duct cleaning. Next, the technician will disconnect the exhaust duct from the back of the dryer and use a vacuum attachment to clear out all the lint inside.

Vent cleaning. Finally, the technician will clean out the vent – removing any lint or debris that’s accumulated there.

Once all the lint has been removed, the technician will test your dryer to make sure it’s running safely and efficiently.

Prevention is Key: Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

In addition to professional Alameda dryer vents cleaning once a year, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of a dryer fire in your home. Here are some tips:

  • Clean the lint screen after every use. The lint screen is located inside the dryer, and it’s easy to forget to clean it. Every time you use your dryer, take a few seconds to remove the lint screen and clear away any lint that’s accumulated.
  • Don’t overload your dryer. Overloading your dryer puts unnecessary strain on the appliance and increases the risk of a fire.
  • Don’t use your dryer without a lint screen. Even if you clean the lint screen regularly, there’s always some lint that gets through. Using your dryer without a lint screen allows that lint to accumulate in the vent – which can eventually lead to a fire.
  • Don’t dry wet or damp clothes. Drying wet or damp clothes in your dryer can cause lint to build up more quickly. If you have any wet or damp clothes, hang them up to dry instead of using the dryer.
  • Keep the area around your dryer clean. Lint can accumulate quickly, so it’s important to keep the area around your dryer clean. Vacuum or sweep regularly to remove any lint that’s accumulated on the floor.

We hope this post answered your question “How does dryer vent cleaning work?” By following these tips and having your dryer vents cleaned professionally once a year, you can help prevent a dryer fire in your home. There’s nothing like the feeling of clean, warm clothes fresh out of the dryer – except for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your dryer vent is safe, clean, and able to perform its job well.

Schedule An Alameda Dryer Vents Cleaning Services

The Irish Sweep specialists can get deep into your vent system where most household cleaning methods can’t reach, so you can enjoy a safer and more effective system for years to come. Our top priority is safety and we customize our services with our client’s best interests at heart. Enjoy clean dryer vents now! To schedule an appointment with an expert, call us at (510)521-4088, or use this simple contact form by clicking here.

 

What to Expect From Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning Experts

Read on to find out what to expect from dryer vent cleaning experts – and learn about how these services guarantee better performance!

Did you know that firefighters respond to about 13,820 house fires caused by dryers every year? These unfortunate and dangerous accidents often cause fire-related injuries and cost a great deal of money in property loss. What’s more, they are often preventable:  34% of the time, these fires are often the result of simply not cleaning the dryer vent. To keep your dryer safe and running smoothly, schedule a dryer vent cleaning experts services at least once a year for a thorough cleaning and inspection.

Expect a Thorough Cleaning

With professional services, you will get a deeper and more thorough cleaning than you would from cleaning the dryer yourself. That’s not to say you shouldn’t still clean your Orinda dryer vents regularly – doing so will keep buildup and clogs to a minimum – but professionals have the specialized equipment and techniques to extract a high volume of lint and dust. Clean dryers can dry clothes faster, run on less energy, and last longer than dirty dryers.

Expect High-Quality Equipment & Techniques

Professionals have been trained to use specialized equipment that can reach every nook and cranny in your Orinda dryer vents and ducts. The process usually involves a flexible vacuum brush, snake brush, or suctioning tool, which can reach inside the dryer vent and collect all of the debris within. After the cleaning, technicians perform an inspection using a digital airflow meter to ensure that the airflow has improved.

Expect Improved Fire Safety

Lint is essentially kindling sitting in the hot environment of the dryer vents. By keeping ducts and vents free of lint, dust, and debris, there is a greatly reduced chance of fire. Without anything to ignite, sparks won’t catch. Professional cleaning services are an investment in the fire safety of your home.

Expect High-Quality Results

Clean and maintained dryers work better, faster, and last longer. Though maintenance requires foresight and action, it offers long-term benefits for your household appliances. After dryer vent cleaning experts services, you can expect improved performance, faster drying times, reduced energy usage, reduced damage to your dryer, and reduced wear and tear on your clothes on each cycle.

Signs your dryer vents and ducts need cleaning:

  • It takes more than one cycle to fully dry clothes
  • Clothes smell musty after going through a dryer cycle
  • The laundry room feels hot or maybe damp while the dryer is running
  • Clothes are too hot to touch at the end of a cycle
  • The dryer sheet picks up sour or musty odors

Schedule a Dryer Vent Cleaning Experts Now

The Irish Sweep specialists can get deep into your vent system where most household cleaning methods can’t reach, so you can enjoy a safer and more effective system for years to come. Our top priority is safety and we customize our services with our client’s best interest at heart. To schedule an appointment with an expert, call us at (510)521-4088, or use this simple contact form by clicking here.

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.

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