5 Ways to Clean Your Dryer Vent to Reduce Fire Risk

Every year, hundreds of house fires break out because of dirty or clogged dryer ducts. Instead of putting your home as well as human life in jeopardy, it is essential to either keep the hoses and vents clean or hire a professional company that performs services for dryer duct cleaning. The following methods are five of the best ways to reduce or eliminate the risk of a fire.

Scheduled Service – Without question, the best way to prevent a fire in your home is by utilizing professional dryer duct cleaning services. After an initial cleaning, you should have the expert return on a scheduled basis. At a minimum, you want the duct system cleaned once a year. However, if you do a significant amount of laundry, especially items that shed a lot of lint, bump the visits to twice a year.

Replacement Hose – If it has been a long time since you last replaced the dryer hose or you have one made of plastic, experts who perform dryer duct cleaning in Toronto recommend switching to a flexible or rigid metal hose. While making the swap, look inside the vent using a flashlight to determine if there is or is not a clog. Usually, you can reach in and extract the material. However, you should always unplug the appliance first.

Lint Trap – As part of dryer duct cleaning, empty the lint trap after every load. Even if you see only a small amount of buildup, make this a habit when doing laundry. That way, you avoid a major buildup. If an excessive amount of lint gets inside the duct, it can accumulate, form a barrier, and become a fire hazard.

Lint Vent – The lint vent, which is a hole at the back of your dryer where the hose connects, also needs cleaning. For this, you need to unplug the appliance, followed by pulling it away from the wall so you can see inside the vent clearly. If a clamp holds the hose in place, use the appropriate screwdriver to remove it. As for cleaning, you can either reach in and grab the material or use a vacuum cleaner.

Installation – While it may not involve direct cleaning, if you have a new dryer installed, make sure the expert installs everything correctly and safely, including the hose. If the delivery person is not qualified, it is worth the money to utilize the services of a licensed professional. Periodically make sure that there is no kink in the hose. If you notice one, take the opportunity to remove it, look for lint buildup, straighten it out, and then reconnect it.

Keep in mind that if dryer duct cleaning in your Toronto home is not something you feel comfortable doing, or for some reason you cannot physically perform the task, you can contact a reputable company for assistance. City Duct Cleaning, a highly respected company that serves customers in the GTA, is an excellent source. Call us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.