You have a fire hazard lurking in your home, and you likely don’t even know about it. Your dryer vent is secretly an area of flammable kindling that can light up your home like a Christmas tree if not removed.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 2,900 home clothes dryer fires occur annually, with an estimated five deaths, and as many as 100 injuries, with at least $35 million damage to property. The good news is that dryer vent maintenance can prevent fires.

A clogged vent can also cause your dryer to malfunction or not perform at a high level. If your clothes are still damp out of the dryer, you have a clog in your dryer ventilation system.

Vent clogs may also derive from critters attempting to enter your home or obtain warmth. Unfortunately, some pests become lodged inside the vent or the dryer hose, causing poor performance on your dryer.

These many issues moved Organic Home Service to offer dryer vent cleaning services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There have been far too many homes and lives destroyed by unclean dryer vents. Fortunately for the average homeowner, a dryer vent is easily cleaned with the right professional or tools.

So, what are the basics of dryer vent cleaning in DFW TX? It is time to dig in.

1. The Lint Trap Is Inspected First

The first basic in dryer vent cleaning is to inspect the most dangerous places when it comes to dryer vent fires: the lint trap in the dryer, the dryer hose, and the dryer vent that goes outside your home.

The lint trap should be something you are cleaning out each time you use your clothes dryer. Your clothes dryer can become a fire hazard. Lint can collect in the trap quickly and accumulate over time to the point where it could cause the lint to catch on fire after touching the heating element. Dryer fires because lint traps are one of the leading causes of house fires. Don’t become a statistic!

2. The Dryer Hose Is Then Inspected

After inspecting your lint trap, locate the dryer hose connected to your dryer outside your home. You can easily detach the hose from the dryer and the wall to inspect it. The dryer hose must be metal with a diameter of 4 inches. Locating a clog here is a prevalent issue and must be addressed immediately.

3. The Dryer Vent Is Inspected as Well

Once you have inspected the lint trap and the dryer hose, look at the dryer vent outside your home. Lint can accumulate here and become a fire hazard. Many dryer vents have covers that are easy to remove for a vent inspection. You may not be able to inspect the dryer vent if it is twisted inside your home, so calling an expert you can trust is invaluable.

A professional will likely have a flexible snake camera that can make it through your vent for a thorough inspection. Your dryer vent should be inspected and cleaned at least once a year to ensure safety.

Dryer vent cleaning is an involved process if you are dealing with a significant clog or years of accumulation. Let’s dig deeper into the next part of the process.

4. Cleaning a Dryer Vent Can Use Many Different Tools

Cleaning the dryer vent can be done by several methods used by amateurs and professional vent cleaning services. Here are a few of the methods used.

A Drill Brush Attachment

Many people successfully clean their dryer vents using a drill brush attachment. These can be purchased online, at your favorite hardware store, or local home improvement center however, they may not give your system the deep clean it needs if you aren’t entirely sure what you are doing.

Attach the brush and a length extender to the end of your drill and insert it into the dryer vent. This exercise should cause a cloud of dust and lint to explode out of the end of the port. Many people (and professionals) wear safety glasses and a ventilation mask to prevent breathing in the lint particles. After several moments of agitation inside the vent, remove the drill brush and throw away any excess lint.

Please note if your dryer vent curves or bends anywhere inside the wall of your home, this method may not work the best.

A Vacuum Attachment

Outside of the drill brush attachment, there are dryer vent attachments made for your vacuum. These tools can attach to your standard upright vacuum or garage canister vacuum.

The advantage of vacuum attachments is that many are agile enough to clean the crevices of your lint trap and snake through any areas of the dryer vent.

Connect the attachment to the end of your vacuum hose, maneuver the tool into position in the dryer vent or lint trap, and activate the vacuum. The vacuum will soon begin to remove any accumulated lint from the trap or vent. Many of these attachments come with guide sticks that allow users to locate pesky lint balls for removal.

An Air Compressor Attachment

Another easy attachment to maneuver, an air compressor attachment with a hose can easily snake into a dryer vent or through the lint trap.

Attaching this tool to an air compressor allows users to blow compressed air into the dryer vent, removing any accumulated lint through the end of the port.

Again, users of this method will need to wear safety goggles and a ventilator mask to prevent breathing in dust and lint particles.

Conclusion

Whichever method you choose to have your dryer vent cleaned, going with a professional is always the best option if you want it completed thoroughly. A thorough cleaning of your dryer vent will prevent fires and also help your clothes dryer run at peak efficiency.

However, understand you may need to replace your dryer vent if there is severe damage or another underlying issue. A contractor or professional can help replace the vent for an affordable price.

Dryer vent cleaning in DFW TX is all about removing a safety hazard at the end of the day. Stay safe!

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