Dryer Vent Cleaning
Since 1996, Air Duct Maintenance has specialized in dryer vent cleaning for residential, commercial, industrial, and healthcare facilities. Our company has multiple team members that hold the CDET (Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician) certification, which is the highest-level certification for dryer vent cleaning. This is the one service that is not optional, but mandatory to have done periodically. Whether this is for your home or a commercial building, our dryer vent cleaning service will save you time, money, and provide you with peace of mind.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that clothes dryers, along with washing machines, cause an average of 15,970 fires annually. Of these fires, dryers are responsible for 92%, often due to lint buildup. These fires result in an estimated 13 deaths, 444 injuries, and $238 million in property damage annually.
Benefits of dryer vent cleaning:
- Decrease drying time
- Use less energy and reduce utility bills
- Extend the life of your clothes dryer
- Prevent dryer fires
- Improve indoor air quality
How often should I have my dryer vent cleaned?
To keep your dryer operating at its best and to prevent a dryer fire, we recommend that you have each dryer vent cleaned by a professional at least once a year on average in your home or commercial building. The main factors that determine the cleaning frequency recommendation are the amount of laundry that is being done and the length of the exhaust duct. Our technician or project manager can provide a more accurate recommendation once onsite.
Blocked Dryer Vent Warning Signs
Clothes do not dry in one cycle
If you are noticing that your clothes are not dry after completing a cycle in the dryer, this is a common sign that the vent needs to be cleaned out. It is easy to expect an issue with the dryer itself, but in most cases the dryer vent cleaning resolves the issue.
Dryer feels hot or omitting a burning smell
If you notice either of these things, the dryer should not be used until the dryer vent has been cleaned out. As lint builds up and starts to restrict the vent, the dryer is not able to exhaust as it is designed too. This will eventually cause the dryer to overheat, which can lead to the need for mechanical repair, or a dryer fire.
High humidity or lint build-up in or around your laundry room
If you notice a lint accumulating behind your dryer or on surfaces in the laundry room, or if your laundry room is very humid, this can indicate that the vent is partially disconnected or clogged. These same issues can cause carbon monoxide to enter the living space when using gas dryers as well.
Terminal cap not operating
Every clothes dryer must have a terminal cap on the outside of the building where the duct comes out. Most models have a flap or flaps that open up when the dryer is being used and close when the dryer is off. If you notice that your terminal cap is not opening when the dryer is being used, this would indicate a clog or other problem.
Dryer Vent Cleaning Process
Our dryer vent cleaning service is a thorough cleaning of the entire dryer exhaust system. This includes everything from the back of the dryer, all the way to the terminal cap outside. Our experienced technician will:
- Disconnect the flexible transition duct that connects the dryer to the main metal duct that goes through the wall.
- Carefully move the dryer out enough for us to get behind it.
- Place the duct under suction using a HEPA filtered vacuum machine.
- Feed our specialized air tools through the duct, scrubbing the inside, and forcing all of the lint and other debris back towards the vacuum where it is sucked out and collected.
- These tools will navigate through the full length of the duct, regardless of the length or number of turns.
- Once the duct is cleaned, we would also clean off the terminal cap, and pest guard.
- Inspect the terminal cap to ensure it opens and closes properly.
- Inspect the transition duct to make sure it is in good condition, and reconnect the dryer securely.
- We would finish by turning the dryer on and checking to make sure there is good air flow before leaving.
Pest Guards & Terminal Caps
If you have an interest or need for a new terminal cap or pest guard, this is something that we can provide and install for you. It is very important to have a pest guard installed if there is any history of bird or other animal activity in the exhaust duct. You can get more information about our Pest Guards here!
Contact us for your free dryer duct cleaning quote!
There is a significant discount on dryer vent cleaning when it is paired with our HVAC air duct cleaning. We can also put special discounts together for communities and other groups of people in the same area. Reach out to us for a free upfront price quote today!