Dryer Duct Cleaning
Dryer Duct Cleaning in Middlesex
While most Middlesex homeowners take the time to clean the lint screen on their dryers after every load of laundry, few people know that the lint screen only captures a fraction of the lint that is created by their dryers. Over time, lint accumulates within the dryer duct system, leading to potential issues with lint fires in your dryer.
At Roy’s Vent Cleaning Services, dryer duct cleaning is one of our most requested services from our Middlesex customers due to the potential fire hazard that can result from improperly maintained dryer duct cleaning systems.
Understanding Your Dryer Duct System
Dryer duct systems are the pathway that allows the lint and hot air from your dryers to exit your home. Depending on the layout of your home, the duct system can extend for a few feet or multiple feet from your dryer to the exterior of your home.
The longer that your duct system extends from your dryer and the more bends that your duct system has, the more lint that can accumulate within that system over time. Flexible duct systems made of plastic or foil materials tend to accumulate lint more rapidly than metal duct systems of similar lengths.
Why Dryer Duct Cleaning is Important for Home Safety
One of the most combustible materials in the home is lint. Dry lint made of cotton or synthetic fabrics is one of the most readily ignitable materials found within the home. Each year, the United States Fire Administration reports that lint fires in dryer duct cleaning systems lead to thousands of fires within residential homes each year.
In addition to fire hazards created by lint accumulation within your dryer duct systems, there are other issues associated with lint buildup:
Drying times will be longer for your laundry: if your dryer takes longer to dry your clothes, it is a sign that your duct system is blocked by lint
The laundry area will become overheated: as lint accumulates within your duct system, the heat from the dryer cannot escape the home and can overheat your laundry area
Your dryer may overheat: dryers contain thermal fuses that will automatically shut off the dryer if it begins to overheat due to lint accumulation. If your dryer is overheating with each use, the fuses will be continually tripping, rendering the dryer ineffective and requiring repair
Gas dryers can release carbon monoxide: if your dryer uses gas as the heating source for your laundry, the carbon monoxide byproduct can reenter the home if the duct system becomes blocked
Mold can grow within your duct system: as a result of the moisture within the hot exhaust of the dryer, the moisture can condense within your ducting system leading to mold growth or damage to the surrounding structure of your home
Our Dryer Duct Cleaning Process
To provide professional, thorough dryer duct cleaning system for homes and businesses in Middlesex and surrounding areas, Roy’s Vent Cleaning Services uses industry standard professional equipment to effectively clean the dryer duct cleaning systems in place in each home.
Step 1 — Inspection of the Dryer Duct System
Before we begin to clean your dryer system, we will conduct an inspection of the duct itself for length, material, bends, and lint accumulation. Additionally, we will also inspect the exterior vent located outside of your home.
Step 2 — Disconnecting the Dryer
To effectively clean the exhaust port of the dryer and the exhaust duct system, we will disconnect your dryer. During this process, we will also inspect the hose that connects your dryer to your duct system and replace the hose if it is showing signs of deterioration.
Step 3 — Agitating the Duct System with a Rotary Brush
Using a flexible rotary brush that is the appropriate size for your duct system, we will agitate the duct to loosen the lint buildup within the duct system walls.
Step 4 — Vacuuming the Duct System
Using a high-powered vacuum system, we will extract the lint that was loosened within the duct system during the agitating phase of the process.
Step 5 — Cleaning the Exterior Vent
The exterior vent of your dryer can also accumulate lint over time. We will clean this vent and the flap that allows the exhaust of your dryer to exit the home.
Step 6 — Testing for Airflow Restoration
Once the duct system has been cleaned, we will test the airflow of your system to ensure that the duct system is no longer blocked and that your dryer is effectively exhausting hot air outside of your home.
Step 7 — Reconnecting your Dryer
Once the duct system has been inspected and cleaned, we will reconnect your dryer to the duct system and inspect the reconnection to ensure that the dryer will function properly after reconnection.
How often should you have your dryer duct cleaned?
While lint accumulation within your dryer duct system is generally allowed for most homes, we recommend having your duct system professionally cleaned at least once each year. For homes with higher laundry frequencies or for dryer duct cleaning systems that are longer in length than others, we recommend having your duct system professionally cleaned every six months to prevent lint-related fires and appliances overheating.
Signs that Your Dryer Duct System Needs to be Cleaned
If you experience any of the following issues with your dryer, it may be time for professional duct system cleaning:
Your clothes are taking longer to dry after each cycle of the dryer
Your laundry area becomes hot after using your dryers
The clothes that come out of the dryer are hotter than normal
You smell burning rubber or lint within your dryer while it is in operation
The exterior vent of your dryer does not open and exhaust air from the dryer while it is in operation
Your dryer shuts off while it is in the middle of a cycle
It has been more than 12 months since you had your dryer duct cleaning system.
Schedule Your Dryer Duct Cleaning
Since lint fires caused by dryer duct system accumulation is one of the most common home fire hazards in America, it is essential that each of our customers has at least one professional duct system inspection and cleaning each year. Roy’s Vent Cleaning Services offers professional duct system cleaning for homes in Middlesex and surrounding areas.
Call us today to protect your home from the dangers of lint fires – and to restore the performance of your dryer!
Roy’s Vent Cleaning Services – Middlesex’s Dryer Duct Cleaning Specialists.