Did you know that dryer ducts are required to have the mesh grill taken off? This is often and over looked by the installer or builder when installing the ducting termination point, build up like this can cause poor performance of the appliance as well as a create a fire hazard as we will go through shortly.
How often do you have your clothes dryer duct cleaned? Did you know that it is recommended to clean your dryer duct annually? There are many reasons for this and we are going to go through some of them.
Unusually High Utility Bills: Conservative estimates maintain that an average dryer will use at least $0.75 worth of electricity during a standard drying cycle. A dryer with a dirty or clogged vent can take twice as long to achieve acceptable results. This means the efficiency of the appliance is altered in such a way that a typical household will waste at least $100 on electricity in a year. Even if the padded utility bill doesn’t concern you, the needless carbon emissions should.
Earlier Than Expected Appliance Failure:
If the dryers duct work is clogged with lint build up the appliance may not last very long and components of the appliance may fail if it is working harder than it should. Smooth wall ducting is preferred when installing a dryer vent to prevent excess lint build up and accommodate easier cleaning, the total length of the run of duct work should not exceed 35 feet from the dryer location to the wall or roof termination. The maximum length of the duct shall be reduced 2.5 feet for each 45-degree (0.8 rad) bend, and 5 feet for each 90-degree (1.6 rad) bend to allow proper exhaust ventilation for the appliance.
Serious Fire Hazard: According to the National Fire Protection Agency in the US, anywhere from 15,000 to 18,000 structure fires are caused by dirty dryer vents every year. Lint buildup alone is a disaster just waiting to happen. Even something as harmless as static electricity can quickly spark a massive conflagration under the right circumstances. Overworked dryers that are close to the edge due to clogged vents can easily blow a circuit and start an electrical fire.
Keeping Dryer Hazards at Bay:
Annual duct cleaning is the best way to prevent these hazards, as well as cleaning out the lint trap in you dryer between every load. There are many companies that offer dryer duct cleaning, if your looking to hire locally in the Sea to Sky corridor I recommend these local companies in the region:
-Granite Property Services
-Blackcomb Chimney Patrol
Comments