Dryer Vent Prevention

Dryer vent prevention is critical. You want to get the lint out. This includes from the back of the dryer and ensuring that the dryer vent pipes leading outside are also cleaned. The major challenge with dryer vent lint  is that once it builds up all it takes is a static electric spark and you may start a house fire.

t’s amazing how much lint gets built up inside the pipe. Depending on how old your dryer vent pipe is, when the vents were installed it could be possible that screws that were inserted to attach your dryer vent pipe are now capturing and holding lint as it tries to leave your house!  This is very common in older homes and is no longer legal or up to canadian building code for installation.

If you have a plastic dryer vent pipe from the back of your dryer leading out, this again isn’t to code but is still available to be purchased at major department stores.   These also tend to collect the most dryer vent lint with the static electricity and are very likely to melt or catch on fire.  Clothes dryer fire safety is critical to think about in any home!

TIPS FOR DRYER VENT PREVENTION!

• Make sure that you have the dryer installed by a professional service provider.
• If you are going to install your dryer, use the manufacturer suggested instructions BEFORE you install the dryer vent.  Install metal piping and DO NOT screw it in.  This should be attached by tape or clamps.
• If you’re installing a dryer in a closet, make sure there is enough air flow.

Other suggestions when drying your clothes.

• Don’t dry your clothes when you’re NOT at home or when you go to sleep.
• Clean the lint screen on your dryer regularly.  This can be located inside the door of the dryer or the top of the dryer.
• Clean out the back of your dryer every 6 months to a year. This can be done by vacuuming the pipe at the back of your dryer or calling a professional dryer vent cleaning company to come and “blow” out the entire dryer vent system.

It’s critical for your safety and your loved ones that you ensure to clean the dryer vent from lint inside and out on a regular basis. If you can’t remember the last time you did this, it’s time to do it. If your clothes are taking longer to dry, you’ll want to inspect your dryer pipe and last benefit is cleaning it regularly will save on energy costs which in Ontario continue to go up!!!
This is a concern in every City in Ontario with new condo and homes being built with a dryer vent, it doesn’t matter if you live in Oakville, Burlington or Hamilton you’ll want to add dryer vent cleaning to your home schedule of routine cleaning!