Dryer Vent Cleaning
Why do dryer vents need to be cleaned?
With every load of laundry that is put in the dryer, tiny bits of fabric fibers (lint) are shed from the edges of the garments. The lint trap in the dryer catches the majority of these fibers but not all of them. Over time, the lint that bypasses the dryer screen accumulates in the dryer vent duct system and reduces air flow. This heavy concentration of lint can also be responsible for excess heat in your dryer that will not only damage your clothing but could start a dangerous fire. As a result, there are approximately 15,000 dryer fires each year, most of which could have been prevented if the dryer duct system had been professionally cleaned. A clean system will also save time and money as the clothes will dry faster and consume less energy.
How will I know when my system needs to be cleaned?
There are several warning signs that your dryer vent needs to be cleaned.
1) Drying time is longer than 45 minutes
2) Dryer is hot to the touch or the clothes and dryer have a burnt smell.
3) Lint on your clothes at the end of the drying cycle.
4) Clothes are still damp at the end of the drying cycle.
How often should you have the dryer duct cleaned?
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend annual dryer duct inspections and/or cleanings to ensure safer and more efficient operation of your appliance. Frequency of duct cleaning will depend on several factors including the number of loads that are dried each week, if there are pets in the home, the length of the dryer vent system and the number of bends there are in the ducts.
Here is a general guideline based on how many loads you dry per week:
1 to 3 loads a week, should be cleaned approximately every 2 years.
4 to 7 loads a week, should be cleaned annually.
8+ loads per week should receive cleanings about every 6 months. But this can change based on the layout of your dryer duct.
Is it safe to leave the dryer on when you leave the house?
No! Never leave a clothes dryer running if you leave home or when you go to bed.
How can a dryer catch on fire?
There are approximately 15,000 dryer fires reported each year. As lint builds up, restricted airflow causes the drying time to increase. When this happens the dryer temperature exceeds safe limits and could potentially ignite the lint that has accumilated inside the dryer and vent.
What does a dryer duct cleaning company do and why is Carolina Certified the best choice for my home?
Most dryer vent cleaning companies will simply run a brush through the duct without really knowing what is inside or if there is any damage or separations in the line. If the technician is not carefull he could actually cause a separation by forcing the brushes through. A separation at a duct joint behind a wall can be a costly repair and also poses many health and safety concerns if not detected and repaired.
Carolina Certified Technicians are C-DET (certified dryer exhaust technician) trained and certified. Our exclusive 7-point cleaning and safety inspection takes a little more time, but guarantees a thorough and professional cleaning. We begin the inspection by first measuring the airflow or backpressure and temperature at an exit point from your dryer vent. We do this at both the beginning and end of our visit. This will clearly show the improvement in air flow as a result of the cleaning. We will keep detailed records of these measurements so we can compare them to the systems performance on future visits.
After a thorough cleaning and inspection of the inside and outside of the dryer, our next step is to visually inspect the inside of the entire dryer duct system with a wireless HD camera. With the camera we can postitvely confirm if a cleaning is needed or if there are any damaged areas, duct separations or major blockages from bird nests or animals that may have entered the duct. The camera also helps us determine the total length of the duct and the number of elbows used. These are two key factors on how well and effecient your dryer will operate. After the visual inspection we will show you the video footage and provide an exact estimate for the cost to professionally clean the duct system.
Depending on your particular dryer duct system configuration, we will determine if its better to clean from the inside or the outside of your home. We use the industry's best tools and heppa vacuums to ensure the best results. If the work is performed from inside the house, we will use a combination brush / vacuum system. When scrubbing, we use a rotating brush and a powerful vacuum to remove all loose or stuck debris. The rotating brush scrubs the buildup off the inside walls of the dryer duct while the vacuum pulls it out of the system leaving a clean and unobstructed airway. Our professional grade heppa vacuums will insure that no dust or lint escapes back into your home. Whether starting from inside or outside, we will thoroughly clean the entire duct as well as the entry and exit points, provided that we are able to access both.
Once the cleaning process is completed, we will use the camera again for one final visual inspection to confirm the entire duct system is clean and operating properly.
How long does the cleaning process take?
The total time needed to complete a thorough cleaning will vary depending on the length of the dryer duct system and the location of the exit vent. The average time is between 60 and 90 minutes.
Does Carolina Certified offer a warranty?
Yes, we stand behind our work with a 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee. Carolina Certified is proud of our customer satisfaction record and numerous positive reviews. All our work comes with a 90-day dryer vent cleaning warranty. If for whatever reason you are not satisfied with our service, just let us know so we can make it right.
