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Understanding the Importance of Dryer Vent Repair and Installation for New Homeowners
As a new homeowner, your home maintenance “to-dos” list likely keeps you busy. However, one of the things you might overlook is proper maintenance for your dryer vent. Your dryer vent plays a critical role in your maintenance plans to help optimize energy efficiency and reduce the risk of dryer fires and carbon monoxide leaks. Here we look at the importance of dryer vent repair and installation to keep your home and family safe.
Importance of Dryer Vent Maintenance
Never underestimate the importance of dryer vent repair and installation for new homeowners. Proper dryer vent repair, installation, and maintenance protect your family from
hazards while also optimizing performance in the following ways:
Health & Safety
The heat to dry your clothes can present a fire hazard if your dryer vents are clogged with built-up lint. By scheduling annual vent maintenance and cleaning, you remove lint and ensure everything is connected and functioning correctly, reducing the risk of dryer vent fires. In fact, according to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, the cause of 31% of dryer-related fires was a failure to clean dryer vents.
Lint and improper installation can lead to carbon monoxide leaks in gas dryers. In addition, when the dryer vent isn’t functioning correctly, it doesn’t release carbon monoxide outside, presenting a severe risk of poisoning.
The final risk related to lint build-up is mold. When operating correctly, dryer vents also remove moisture and hot air outside. However, lint build-up in vent tubes collects moisture, creating the perfect environment for mold growth. Mold can cause allergy-like symptoms, including watery eyes, skin irritation, coughing, lung irritation, runny nose, sneezing, headaches, and fatigue.
Energy Efficiency
Clogged vents prevent your dryer from creating enough hot air and airflow to dry clothes. As a result, you will have to rerun the cycle several times, using up more energy and costing you more money.
Optimized Performance
Running your dryer more often puts strain on all its parts leading to ongoing repairs and early replacement. Unfortunately, those extra cycles create unnecessary friction on clothes fibers, making clothes look older and increasing the risk of tears. Properly installed and maintained dryer vents optimize performance and energy efficiency to avoid wear and tear on the dryer and your clothes.
Tip: If you have an accordion-style duct, the risks are higher as they contain ridges prone to collecting and trapping lint. Installing a rigid metal duct with smoother walls will allow lint to move more freely and avoid build-up.
Risks of Neglecting Dryer Vent Care
The main risk of neglecting dryer vent care is lint build-up that increases the risk of house fires and carbon monoxide leaks, decreases energy efficiency, and interferes with proper dryer function. The good news is that you can avoid these risks with appropriate dryer vent care using the following tips:
- Clean the lint from the lint screen after each use.
- Schedule at least one professional dryer vent cleaning a year.
- Consider replacing your accordion-style duct with rigid metal ducts.
- Check metal ducts to ensure they are installed with either foil tape or proper duct connectors and metal clamps, as screws can increase lint build-up.
- If you have clothes or other materials stained with chemicals such as gas, flammable chemicals, cleaning products, or cooking oil, do not put these clothes in the dryer -- hang dry them instead.
Understanding the importance of dryer vent repair and installation can reduce risks and ensure your dryer vents aren’t neglected.
Professional Assistance for New Homeowners
New homeowner pride of ownership might bring out the DIYer in you. While this is fine for many projects around your new home, you should always put high-risk projects like dryer vent installation, repairs, and maintenance in the hands of professionals. If you’ve recently moved into your home, it’s a good idea to call your local dryer vent expert to have them inspect your setup and assist with the following:
- Ensure the dryer vent is properly hooked up to the exterior venting
- Check to make sure your dryer isn’t producing too much heat when operating
- Ensure dryer positioning isn’t collapsing the vent hose
- Ensuring gas dryer hoses are removing carbon monoxide
- Recommend hose replacement if your hose is old or damaged
A professional inspection will ensure all required repairs are made, installation of new hoses is appropriately performed, and dryer vents are cleaned annually to keep your home safe.
For more information on the importance of dryer vent repair and installation, click
here to read our Complete Guide.
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