Do you remember how old you were when you first learned how to wash and dry your clothes? Perhaps you were a teenager whose mother needed an extra hand and knew you needed assigned chores. I bet your mom didn’t inform you how often a dryer vent cleaning service was required. However, I guarantee she stayed on top of you to clean out the dryer vent lint trap.
If you are a parent, you may relish enlisting your kid to handle their own smelly loads of laundry. Laundry may be simple, but it includes some essential steps. Of course, we have been instructed to avoid overloading the washing machine, use the appropriate amount of detergent for each load, and, most importantly, clean out the dryer’s lint tray.
We have all been told that dryer vent trays should be cleaned after each use. This is a simple task that plenty of teenagers, and even some adults, need to remember to complete on laundry day. While this is integral to proper clothes dryer maintenance, stopping the dryer vent cleaning process at the filter can produce hazardous results. While the dryer vent tray can filter out large amounts of lint, plenty of debris still builds up over time. It can even clog the ventilation system altogether.
Neglecting to completely clean the dryer vent can lead to minor and significant damage to your home. As one of the hardest working appliances in your home, avoiding such disasters extends your dryer’s life and the integrity of your home. When it comes to your dryer’s current health, as yourself these questions:
- How often have you had your dryer vent cleaned?
- Do you clean out your lint trap after every load of laundry?
- Are you regularly using dryer sheets?
Now what can you do to take preventative actions? There are plenty of ways to determine if now is the right time to schedule a professional dryer vent cleaning service. Allow us to show you some of the warning signs if a dryer vent cleaning is overdue, a few of the benefits of a clean and clear dryer vent, and why entrusting Window Ninjas for this task is vital for your home!
6 Signs Now Is Time To Schedule a Dryer Vent Cleaning
What are the warning signs that it’s time to clean your dryer vent? There are several clues your dryer vent needs professional cleaning, and you can discover these signs yourself. Here are just a few of the easily detectable hints you can find in your home:
Check On Your Last Service Visit
When was your last professional dryer vent cleaning? If you hesitate to answer or don’t know the answer, it is likely time to schedule an appointment. Typically, it would be best to have your dryer vent cleaned every six months.
The frequency may vary depending on multiple factors. If your dryer is used often, the more regular cleanings may be in order. Say you are a parent of multiple kids. They may feel like they’re doing a new load of laundry every hour on the hour, and there’s still a mountain of clothes left to clean. Someone like this example would be wise to have more routine cleanings for their dryer vent lined up.
How’s The Smell?
We are all familiar with the scent of our preferred detergents and dryer sheets. So when we get a whiff of our home’s laundry room, we should know precisely how it should smell. However, there are two unpleasant smells your dryer could give off that should be a warning that action needs to be taken.
First, an obnoxious musky is a clear sign that your dryer vent requires cleaning. The unwelcome odor indicates that your wet clothes did not fully dry. This is likely due to a clogged ventilation system preventing your dryer from entirely doing its job.
Second, if you notice a burning smell in your laundry room, immediately check for smoke, and if you can do so safely, turn off the dryer. A fire could very easily ignite from an overly stuffed dryer vent. With all that hot air built up, one too many loads with a dryer overdue for a dryer vent cleaning could spell disaster for your home.
Length And Efficiency Of Each Load
How long did your dryer take to complete a load when you first used it? I bet those early loads of laundry were nice and warm. You may have tossed a heavy robe in one of those early loads, and it came out fluffier than ever.
Now ask yourself this question: how long did it take to get that robe back to that fluffy level today? If it’s taking much longer than those early days, your dryer vent may be getting clogged up.
Prolonged drying times are not only frustrating but could damage your clothes. Suppose a dryer is unable to completely dry a load of laundry. In that case, your clothes may get a pungent smell if left unattended for an extended period of time. Since mold could build in wet loads of laundry, you will need to rewash your clothes as soon as possible once you notice the scent to preserve your favorite pair of jeans.
Is It Getting Too Hot In The Laundry Room?
Have you recently walked into your laundry room while the dryer is working on the latest load of clothes, and it felt like an afternoon in Miami? Unless you have a sauna next to your washer, that should be another sign that things may be off with your dryer.
A hot and humid laundry room is a signal from your dryer that the vent is starting to clog. When lint builds up in the dryer vent, hot air cannot escape properly, leading to noticeable temperature changes in the laundry room.
While it may be enticing to pull up a beach chair and sip from a drink with a tiny umbrella next to your washing machine, you would be best to call team Window Ninjas for a comprehensive cleaning!
Dryer Sheets Could Be An Accomplice
We all love the snuggly, soft feel of a hot load of laundry, especially if it comes with a pleasant fresh scent provided by a dryer sheet. Not only do dryer sheets make clothes feel softer and smell nice, but they also help prevent static building up, which will prevent clothes from clinging together.
While dryer sheets have many great benefits, they could cause lint build-up in your dryer vent. The residue from constant dryer sheet use can quickly filter through your lint trap, increasing the need for more frequent dryer vent cleaning services.
Check The Vent Hood
Do you know where your dryer vent leads out in your home? It is likely an exhaust port leading out from your house near the exterior wall of your laundry room. Please go check it out! Well, preferably after you finish reading this post.
Ideally, your dryer duct should have a protective cover at its end, known as a vent hood. This essential component is crucial for the safety and proper functioning of your dryer vent. The vent hood allows your dryer to exhaust effectively while shielding your appliances from the elements. Make sure you have this necessary attachment in place to maintain the efficiency and longevity of your laundry equipment.
Checking on your vent hood is the easiest way to visually tell if you need to schedule a dryer vent cleaning service. If there is a build-up of dust bunnies on the vent hood, then your duct likely needs to be cleared out.
Did you know that dust and dryer debris are not the only things that can clog your vent? From our experience, about 20% of our technicians have found bird nests in a client’s vent hood. That is why it is so vital to utilize a professional cleaning service. Each of our highly-trained technicians provides a thorough inspection, which includes a written report outlining all aspects of the dryer ventilation system.
Enlisting the help of a reputable, professional dryer cleaning service is a smart move to ensure the overall well-being of your home. With the backing of a detailed inspection, you can rest assured your home will be dryer lint and bird nest free!
Conclusion
When should you schedule your next dryer vent cleaning service? If you are experiencing any warning signs, the time is NOW!
Whether you notice a gross odor, longer drying times, or some mysterious chirping from your vent hood, we here at Window Ninjas are ready to take your call to clear your dryer vent. We offer top-tier dryer vent cleaning service provided by our team of well-trained professionals and guarantee you will notice an immediate difference in the quality of your laundry.
Get ready to toss your favorite fluffy robe back in your dryer and relax, knowing you can confidently warm it up perfectly any time you like!
Set up your next dryer vent cleaning with Window Ninjas today! Give us a call at 1-833-646-5271, or reach out on our website at https://windowninjas.com/schedule-a-service/. Let us give you the peace of mind of knowing your next load of laundry will be as perfect as your first!