Selling a Home?
Safety & Savings: Cleaning Dryer Vents
by Kat Apf
While cleaning your dryer vent is probably not high on your list of household chores, it should be. Most of us clean the lint screen after each load and think we're done. Many people do not even know the potential danger involved in never cleaning a dryer vent. The fire hazard danger is, of course, the most important reason to clean the dryer vent but not only that, you can save yourself some money, too!
Statistics-
The latest statistic available on dryer vent fires is from 1998. According to Consumer Products Safety Commission, 15,600 dryer vent fires occurred in this year. Twenty people were killed in these fires and another 370 were hurt. It's fairly easy to take care of your dryer vent and avoid becoming a statistic. And it's easy enough to find someone to clean your dryer vent for you, if you feel you're not capable.
Save Dollars-
You can save up to $20 dollars every month by making sure your dryer vent is clean and clear. Clogged vents make your dryer work harder and longer and cause your bill to go up. While $20 a month might not seem like much, add it up for a year and that's $240.
Changes in Code-
Plastic dryer hoses are no longer acceptable according to most codes for most states, but a lot of older homes still have plastic hoses in use. If you have a plastic hose on your dryer, have it changed immediately. That's your first step. Flexible thin foil hoses are also not recommended because they can kink and block the air flow. This can cause a fire, too. The recommended type of hose is a semi-rigid aluminum hose.
How Often?
Most dryer vents need to be cleaned once or twice a year or at least checked. But any time your dryer seems to be taking longer to dry clothes is a good time to check the outside and inside vents. Cleaning the walls and floor behind your dryer is probably something you should do about every six months.