The clothes dryer is responsible for more than 15,000 house fires every year. That’s a startling number! We always try to discuss dryer hose and dryer vent cleaning with our clients because it’s such an important topic. You may feel like things are going smoothly and then all of a sudden the dryer starts taking longer to dry your clothes; then it takes two full cycles and your clothes feel very hot at the end of the cycle. These are actually signs that the dryer hose and vent are becoming clogged with lint and they need to be cleaned.

  1. Improve Energy Efficiency – An improperly working dryer costs more money to operate.
  2. Decrease Drying Time – Drying time should be roughly 30 to 45 minutes in the average dryer. Resetting the dryer costs more money in the long run and puts undue stress on the dryer.
  3. The Proper Tools for the Job – We are Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians (CDET). We have the tools required for the job.
  4. Local Business – We’re located in Drexel Hill and service the surrounding areas. Click here for a list of our service areas. We can schedule an appointment and get the job done in a timely manner.
  5. Danger of Fire – The lint that collects in the dryer hose and vent is very combustible because it is lightweight with a lot of air to fuel the flames. One spark has the potential to cause a fire through the dryer hose. The fire could cause serious personal injury to you and then travel back into the dryer and cause a house fire.

Here are tell-tale signs that the dryer vent needs to be cleaned:

  • The exterior vent flap doesn’t open properly
  • Clothes get too hot on a normal cycle
  • Drying time doubles or triples
  • The dryer smells very hot or puts off a burning odor

Cleaning the dryer vent isn’t a difficult job per se, but it is very messy. Make sure you have the proper tools and the proper safety equipment if you decide to attempt it on your own. We understand that a lot of homeowners want to take care of home maintenance issues like this on their own time, and that’s perfectly okay. We just want to make it clear that the job does require safety equipment such as a mask or breather and eye protection. Your lungs and throat can get very irritated from breathing in the lint coming from the dryer hose and vent, and eye damage is no laughing matter either.

The CSIA Certified (Chimney Safety Institute of America Certified) chimney sweeps here at Lou Curley’s Chimney Service are also CDET Certified (Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians) so we have the tools, training, and experience necessary to do the job quickly, safely, and efficiently. Call us at 610-626-2493 to schedule an appointment for your dryer or chimney, or to discuss potential issues with us.