by Mike O'Mara | Jul 31, 2018 | Dryer Vent Maintenance
Are you overdue for a dryer vent cleaning? You’re not alone, and many homeowners underestimate the importance of investing in this regular maintenance. Unfortunately, this type of neglect can lead to some very serious and life-threatening issues down the line! Give the team at Weststar Chimney Sweeps a call right away, so we can help you out. It’s a decision you won’t regret!
Not A Do-It-Yourself Job
So, why can’t a homeowner attempt the cleaning process themselves? Well, they can, but they aren’t likely going to get as good of results. To properly clean out your vents, you need a wide range of special equipment, and our sweeps have gone through extensive training to ensure they use everything correctly. Simply taking the vents apart and vacuuming them with an extension hose won’t get the process done completely, and you’ll still be facing many hazardous risks!
The tools we use ensure every nook and cranny is taken care of, and we guarantee we can get around even the tightest turns and twists quickly and effectively. We’ll also check all the connections, so you’ll know you’re getting the most from your appliance after we’ve looked everything over. There’s no reason not to get an appointment on the books today!
Now, you may be wondering why investing in this service is such an important step in home care. First of all, dirty and clogged up vents are known for triggering thousands of fires across the United States every single year. This results in multiple deaths, hundred of injuries, and thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of damage.
If the heat and fumes from your dryer cannot vent properly, they’ll build up and catch the flammable lint on fire. With all that extra kindling around, it takes no time for this fire to spread, and you may lose an enormous amount depending on how slowly or quickly flames get extinguished. It’s definitely not worth taking any chances, especially when it comes to keeping your loved ones safer.
Along with this, you’ll be more likely to face carbon monoxide exposure, which can be deadly when not addressed in a prompt fashion. Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous to those without carbon monoxide detectors throughout their home, as the gas itself is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Without anything to alert people within the property, they’ll have no way to indicate whether or not they’ve been exposed! The only hope would be that symptoms were caught in time, giving them a chance to get out of the home and call for help, but this is a risky situation, indeed.
Count On Our Team
Ensure you have clear pathways for fumes and vapors to escape by calling in our CSIA certified crew right away. We’ll give you the peace of mind you deserve, so you can rest easier all year long! Contact our staff, and we’ll get an appointment on the books. There’s no time to waste!
by Mike O'Mara | Jun 23, 2014 | Dryer Vent Maintenance
It’s very important to keep up with dryer vent cleaning, as the built up lint is a fire hazard that endangers your house and everyone in it. Call Weststar Chimney Sweeps to schedule an inspection and cleaning of your dryer vents to help you maintain a safer and more efficient dryer.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please give us a call! We look forward to providing you with a lifetime of high-quality, professional services!
by Mike O'Mara | Jan 3, 2014 | Dryer Vent Maintenance, fire safety
Never overlook your dryer vents. You may think they don’t need that much attention, but when taken for granted, it could create a problem in your home.
With things like carpools, soccer practices, and other family-related activities with which to contend, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some things, often through no fault of our own, take a back seat to everything else that’s going on. One thing that is commonly overlooked by homeowners is the proper maintenance and cleaning of dryer vents. People may think that cleaning these vents isn’t all that important. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
Dangers of Lint Buildup
There are thousands of fires caused by dryer lint buildup that happen every year. One of the ways to decrease the chances of fire is to clean your dryer vent after every laundry load you use it for. In fact, studies prove that effective cleaning maintenance of dryer vents can reduce the chances of fire by 90%. Not only does vent cleaning help prevent house fires, it also will make sure our clothes are dry and smelling nice after each use.
Increased Energy Consumption
Aside from the dangers of fire, buildup of dirt and lint in the dryer vent can also significantly increase your energy consumption. This is due in large part to the fact that a clogged vent makes your dryer take more time to dry your clothes. There are numerous warning signs that you can watch for that will indicate that you have a dirty dryer vent. Possible signs that the vent may be clogged is if the dryer no longer dries the clothes in one cycle, the clothes carry a musty smell after a drying cycle, the dryer seems to run hotter than normal, a visible amount of lint is noticed around the lint filter, and debris is noticed within the outside dryer vent opening.
Importance of Vent Cleaning
To avoid this potentially dangerous buildup in your vents, you need to follow a predetermined maintenance schedule. As a general rule of thumb, the majority of dryer vents need to be cleaned at least once a year; some dryer ducts need more frequent attention. Some determining factors include:
- The number of people who are using the same dryer
- The age and condition of the dryer
- The length of your dryer vent
The best way to ensure dryer safety is to clean the lint screen after every use and to have your vent and duct cleaned regularly. Each time you run your dryer, lint builds up in the vent. Cleaning the lint screen will help you keep the dryer running and working well, but a little lint will remain within the vent. It is very important to keep up with dryer vent cleaning, as the built up lint poses a very serious hazard to your house and everyone in it. If you are unsure when your dryer was last serviced or you notice that the dryer seems to be running hotter than normal, you should contact us as soon as possible.