Tens of thousands of house fires are caused by dryer vents. In order to exhaust the hot, moist air to the outdoors, dryers depend on a four inch diameter, unrestricted, metal vent. Some people barely acknowledge the vent, where most do not give it another thought. When the dryers take multiple cycles to dry one average load, quite a few people are puzzled as to why. Excess lint is actually the common cause and we at Air Pure Air Duct Cleaning would like to share the dangers of lint buildup.
How Lint Buildup Causes a Dryer Fire
You can significantly reduce dryer fires by simply taking quick action and get help to find out the reason behind long dry times. Lint won’t get exhausted outdoors when the dryer is experiencing a blocked or restricted vent, it will instead accumulate inside the dryer or the vent. The lint builds up and creates a restriction or blockage and over time, it continues to buildup inside the dryer and makes its way to the heat source. When the lint comes into contact with a glowing red heating element or the open flame of a gas burner, the lint ignites and the air from the vent feeds the flames. Before the dryer’s exhaust from the home, the contractors often route vents inside walls and in ceilings of rooms. All too quickly, lint fires can potentially burn through a non-metal vent, causing the home to catch on fire in multiple areas. Additionally, the dryer itself suffers irreparable internal damage caused by the fire.
How to Prevent Your Dryer Catching Fire
Because dryer lint is hazardous as an extremely flammable material, preventing dryer fires are essential. Since lint is so easy to ignite, campers recommend using a ball of it to start a campfire. In addition to your efforts of cleaning the vent trap after every load and getting the vent professional cleaned every year or so, implement a replacement vent of rigid (rigid is the number one choice by professionals) or flexible metal vent. This offer some assurance that if a lint fire starts, it maximizes the chance of containment in the vent instead of fire spreading through the interior walls. Always replace your vent if it’s plastic or foil as these materials quickly burn and increase the risk of a house fire. Also, if not installed properly, the length of the vent determines its efficiency and can cause restricted air flow. Metal dryer vent length should be no longer than 25 linear feet according to International Residential Code (IRC), Section M1502. Deduct five feet from the 25-foot maximum for the new maximum length in the event there’s a bend or 90-degree turn, for each turn or bend. As the length of the vent increases, the efficiency of venting decreases.
Dryer Vent Cleaning Services & More in Aliante, Anthem, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Enterprise, Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Inspirada, Mountain’s Edge, North LV, Paradise, Providence, Rhodes Ranch, Seven Hills, Silverado Ranch, Spring Valley, Summerlin, Sunrise Manor, The Lakes, Tuscany Village & Las Vegas Nevada
To help determine the dryer’s efficiency, the limitations of your dryer’s blower motor plays a role. To assist the air flowing through it, use the shortest length of metal vent and keep it as straight as possible. Even with these steps, it is still important to recognize the lint is dangerous and should be cleaned out of the vent trap and professional cleaning in the dryer vent line. Call Air Pure Air Duct Cleaning for a thorough dryer vent cleaning today!
