Dryer Vent Cleaning | House Fires | Scheduling Dryer Vent Cleaning

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.

HOW TO INSTALL A DRYER VENT

It’s been over 100 years since the first clothes dryers were invented. They initially used barrels but nowadays they are fully electronic. Modern dryers require a way to ventilate the dryer so the lint and moisture can exit. But, how do you install a dryer vent? The process takes five steps:

DUCT ROUTE

The first step is to determine the best route to have the duct go from the machine to the home’s exterior. You try to make this short and with minimal bends. This will ensure less possibility for excessive buildup and a potential fire hazard. We highly recommend making the distance no more than 15 feet, if possible.

PREPARING THE EXIT

Once you have the route, you need to create a hole within the home’s exterior to account for the piping. Do this hole carefully as you are impacting the integrity of the home. Creating a smaller, “practice” hole is a good idea to ensure you are heading in the right direction and there is no blockage.

PLACE THE CAP

With the hole in place, it’s time to secure the dryer vent cap to the exterior of the home. Once you’ve installed it, place calking around the opening to keep any other elements out.

CONNECT THE DRYER DUCT

With the route created and the cap installed, measure the length of the distance from the cap to the dryer. Cut the amount of ducting needed and attach the dryer vent duct to the dryer and cap.

TEST

With the vent installed and connected, you now need to run the dryer to test that it is all properly connected.

If you have questions about your dryer vents, contact the experts at The Irish Sweep.

EASY SPRING CLEANING: 3-DAY PLAN

Spring cleaning is a tradition households follow as winter weather gives way to fresh, warm spring days. This is a natural time for fresh starts, including resetting your annual home needs. And going forward knowing all is in order.

Spring cleaning has its own natural task list, plus many things that you could theoretically do any time. It’s convenient and efficient to lump these spring-time and any-time chores together.

So what are these tasks and what’s the best way to get them done? You can actually get a huge amount of home maintenance accomplished if you approach it with good organization. This 3 day plan can leave you with all your spring chores handled easily in just a few days.

DAY 1- DOING WALKTHROUGHS

Get a notepad and write these headings on the pages: BUY, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, and REPLACE. As you go, you’ll be making lots of notes here. This can help you stay organized and efficient, so you can save your time and energy for other things.

Walkthrough to find out what’s needed:

INSIDE THE HOUSE

Press the “test” button on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Swap out old batteries for fresh ones, if needed. Write down any batteries you need to buy.
Check your plumbing for leaks. Include sinks, toilets, and any pipes you can access. Make notes if needed under repair or replace.
Turn on all lights as you walk through, list bulb types and number you need under “buy”.
Check your walls for dirt and scuffs. Wash walls if needed, or note where you need to repaint.
Inspect caulking in the bathroom & kitchen. Also check window seals, and seals on door and window insulation as you go. Make notes if needed under repair and replace.
Clean your floors and check for stains and damage. If you need minor repairs, carpet cleaning, or significant floor maintenance, make a note of it.
Check your HVAC system and make note of the filter size to buy for replacement.
Look at your dryer vent. When was it cleaned last? Have it professionally cleaned if needed.
Have you had your chimney swept this year? If not make a note to schedule maintenance.

OUTDOORS

Inspect and test your lawnmower, make notes where appropriate if it needs help.
Turn on your irrigation system and walk around the grounds to inspect it before the watering season. Move any roots choking it, make notes of any leaking or clogged areas it has.
Inspect wooden features like decks and fences to see if they need to be re-sealing or staining, make a note of loose railings and boards to repair.
Spray down concrete and look for pools of water on your property. When it rains, are there places where water pools in your grass and soil areas? Look at your driveway, walkways, and patios. Make note if concrete surfaces or drainage need professional help.
Visually assess your foundation, siding and roof for repair and maintenance needs. If you can’t see your roof from the ground, make a note to call for a roof inspection.
Use a ladder to check your gutters and downspouts for foliage. Make a note under maintenance to clean them if needed.
Observe your lawn, landscaping and trees. Make a note of any problems that might need addressing.

DAY 2- GETTING STUFF DONE

This would ideally be a full day off from work. Day two doesn’t literally have to be the day after Day 1. It should be a day that you have time to get your hands dirty.

Looking at your to-do lists, add anything you need from the store to the to-buy list
Buy items on your list from yesterday: batteries, HVAC filters, etc.
Complete the tasks you noted to do today.
Give your fireplace surround a thorough scrubbing.
Dust your home, from top to bottom. Start with things that are higher up, then mid-level, then lower items.
Clean your doors, windows and screens — inside and out. If they need repair or replacement, make a note.
Flush your water heater, or make a note under maintenance to hire a pro to perform the work for you. Experts recommend flushing annually.
If you have a sump pump, test it by slowly pouring water into the sump pit. The pump should activate and the water should drain. Make a note that you need repair if necessary.
Do a lawn mower oil change if it’s been a while, and fill it up with gas if needed.
Flip the switches on your ceiling fans to move the fan blades counterclockwise and send air downward. This should help clean dust from the blades. If they need extra dusting, get a step ladder and wipe them with a rag.
Inspect your HVAC system and replace your filters. Make a note to hire a professional if you’re due for your annual service or an air duct cleaning.
At the end of the day, make note of anything still undone to come back to later.

DAY 3- MAKING PLANS

This should ideally be a work day, so that businesses are open when you call. Look at your calendar and identify times you can schedule maintenance and repairs. This makes it easier when you make calls to schedule services that you identified a need for. Make the calls to schedule services you need.

You can also use today to finish repairs or maintenance that you weren’t able to finish on the second day. There may have just been a high volume of things to get done, or some tasks may have included more steps than you foresaw. Either way, today’s your day to wrap them up.

Using this system of 1) Doing Walkthroughs, 2) Getting Stuff Done, and 3) Making Plans can keep you organized and ensure that all your Spring Cleaning tasks get handled efficiently.

WHAT ARE FACTORY BUILT FIREPLACE?

This is a fireplace and chimney system that was manufactured in a factory (as the name implies) out of metal. It is a modular system of component parts that was brought to a job site and installed once the wood framing for the house was in place. It has a firebox lined with refractory panels, with a damper at the top of the firebox and lengths of double or triple-walled

chimney place on top to form a complete fireplace and chimney system. The chimney above the roofline may be enclosed by a wooden chase.

It has many slang names (which I refuse to use) but some of you may know this fireplace as a Z-Can, ZC, Zero Clearance fireplace (which is a misnomer) as clearances to combustibles are required. I’ve heard some people refer to it as an insert, which is totally incorrect.