Professional dryer duct cleaners have been trained and are skilled professionals. As such, they have tricks of the trade that we as homeowners may not know. Even when something appears to be functioning properly, there could still be unseen dangers lurking beneath the surface. For example, lint build-up in the ducting can cause a fire hazard or overheating in your dryer. That’s why it’s important to hire a professional dryer duct cleaning service as soon as possible if you see any red flags. Locating and hiring a professional dryer duct cleaning service doesn’t have to be difficult. If you own an older home, then you may already have had one installed at some point during construction or renovation. You may also want to get in contact with your real estate agent to see if this was part of your home’s original construction package or another company that might have records from that era. Aside from that, here are some top reasons why you should call a professional dryer duct cleaning service:
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Professional Dryer Duct Cleaning Services Are Skilled Professionals
There is a lot of science behind a successful dryer duct cleaning job, and to do it well, a professional dryer duct cleaning service will need to be able to navigate obstacles and challenges that may not be obvious to you. For example, ducts are often hidden between walls or under concrete floors, making it difficult to gain access. When conditions are cramped or inaccessible, professional dryer duct cleaning services may use technologies such as fiber optic cameras to see inside the ducts. In addition, professional dryer duct cleaning services will also have specialized equipment to get the job done, such as long extendable rods and snakes, to clean the ducting without having to enter the space.
Duct Cleaning Is A Complex Job
In general, duct cleaning is a complex job. It requires specialized tools and knowledge to get the job done right. Dryer vents get clogged with lint because of the airflow direction. As air flows through it, lint is going to get stuck. This makes it necessary to hire a professional dryer duct cleaning service. In fact, if you clean the ducts yourself, you might just be making the problem worse. You can use a vacuum to remove the visible lint, but you’ll miss the clogged ducting and cause back pressure that’ll make the problem worse. Because duct cleaning requires special tools and techniques, duct cleaning companies are required to have proper licensing and insurance.
Dryer Vent Fires & Overheating Can Be Dangerous & Devastating
If the dryer ducting is clogged, then lint is likely to build up inside the ducting—especially in corners and seams where it’s difficult to clean. If lint builds up inside the ducting, especially in corners and seams where it’s difficult to clean, it could catch fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 fires per year caused by lint build-up in dryer ducts. To make matters worse, a fire hazard in the dryer ducting could easily go unnoticed. For example, in a duplex situation, a fire in one unit may not be detected by neighbors in the other unit because the lint and other debris may be completely contained behind the wall.
Your Dryer’s Motor Could Also Be At Risk
Most clothes dryers have a motor that’s hidden behind the drum; it’s designed to stay there and not come out. If lint or debris gets sucked into the motor, it can get caught up inside the bearings and cause them to fail prematurely. If the motor fails prematurely, it could mean having to buy a new dryer. Depending on the extent of the damage and the model of your dryer, you could be looking to spend a few hundred dollars or thousands of dollars on a new dryer.
Stagnant Air Leads To Bad Odors, Mold, & Dust Mite Growth
You may not see it or smell it, but the air within your ducts is stagnant. If you don’t clean your vents regularly, it can lead to bad odors, mildew, and mold growth, as well as dust mite growth and droppings. To put this into perspective, imagine having a thick layer of dust and debris covering every inch of your ducts. When air blows through the ducts, it’s forced to travel through this layer of dust and debris. As you can imagine, this could lead to poor air quality in your home.
