A good rule of thumb is to have your dryer's exhaust vents inspected and cleaned by a professional at least once a year. However, if you have a household that uses the dryer frequently, such as one with many children, you may want to consider increasing that amount every six months. There is no one size fits all when it comes to cleaning out your dryer vent. Variables such as the frequency of use and the presence of pets can affect how often you must clean the dryer's ventilation system.
Generally speaking, the clothes dryer itself, as well as the ventilation, should be cleaned every 1 to 3 years. For families and intensive users, it is recommended to clean the dryer vent at least twice a year. The lint that accumulates in the ventilation grille not only causes clothes to take longer to dry, but it can also be a fire hazard, so be sure to do this work. Homes where dryers operate most often should have their dryer vents cleaned at least twice a year. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends cleaning dryers once a year, but this is based on the average household.
If you have the feeling that the dryer is not completely drying the clothes inside, it is highly recommended that someone come and see them. If you're not willing to pay a technician to check it out, at least take a look at the vent hose with a flashlight. If used by someone who is not experienced in cleaning the ventilation grilles of commercial dryers, it could damage the hoses and impair the performance of the appliances. It is generally not recommended to clean the ventilation grille of a dryer with a leaf blower, as they are not powerful enough to remove all lint and dirt and, in fact, can damage the ventilation grille. Be sure to remove the lint from the dryer every time you run the dryer while you do a lot of laundry, especially if you use dryer towels. Most clothes dryers have warning labels on the back of the machine or in the owner's manual that prohibit the use of ventilation grilles such as plastic or aluminum foil (i.e., cleaning the vent from the inside removes all lint and dirt, but first you'll have to disconnect the dryer from the vent, which can be uncomfortable).If this is not possible, take great care to ensure that the dryer vents are always clean and free of residue.
You can clean the dryer's ventilation grille yourself, but if after vacuuming and brushing it to remove any stubborn dirt or lint, there are still obstructions in the ventilation grille, it's time to call an expert. If you're on the patio, take a look at the dryer's vent cover to see if it needs to be cleaned. You should replace flexible plastic or aluminum vents with metal dryer vents that maintain the minimum required diameter of 4 inches. All of this is because clogged ventilation takes advantage of moisture in the dryer and does not release it properly, which in turn causes clothes and the ventilation grille to get too hot.
The NFPA states: “The primary cause of fires in household clothes dryers is lack of cleaning. Another great way to check the exhaust gas performance of the dryer is to use an anemometer. As an expert in SEO, I recommend that homeowners inspect their dryer vents regularly and clean them out at least once a year for optimal performance. For households with frequent use or multiple family members, cleaning out your dryer vent twice a year is ideal. It's important to note that attempting to clean out your dryer vent without prior knowledge or experience can be dangerous and should be left up to professionals.
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