How Dryer Vent Cleaning is Good for Your Wallet and Your Appliance
You put in a load of laundry and the dryer has to be cycled two or three times to see it through. For no apparent cause your energy bills are on the upswing. And you will find your clothes are hot to the touch but not dry.
There is a good chance a clogged vent is to blame. We at 605 Appliance Pros put an end to that kind of trouble for homeowners in Greater Sioux Falls. Put in a call to (605) 597-7421 and let us have a look at the machine with an expert’s eye.
It is not something one would normally consider when thinking of ways to save money, yet a dryer vent can have more of an effect than is commonly thought. Here is why.
The Mechanics of a Clogged Vent
The function of the vent is to expel the hot, moist air from the dryer to the outside. Lint goes with it. No matter how well you keep the lint trap, some fine fibers will make their way past and accumulate in the line.
With enough of this buildup the airflow is impeded. The dryer is then obliged to put in more time and effort to accomplish what was once a one-cycle job. By the time most folks catch on, the damage is done.
Why You See It on Your Energy Bill
When the vent is restricted the dryer is going to run longer. That translates into more gas or electricity being used, month in and month out, and the expense is there in the background.
A clogged vent will show itself in these ways:
- A normal cycle leaves the clothes damp
- Unusual heat from the dryer and the laundry
- Running loads twice around
- Warmth or humidity in the room
- A musty or faint burning odour
- The vent flap outside does not seem to budge
Get the vent cleared and the dryer will be back to putting away a load in one cycle and your bills with it.
Avoiding Costly Repairs
A dryer cannot breathe if the vent is blocked and the machine is put under stress by running hot and long. The motor, the sensors and the heating element are all the worse for it.
Eventually the strain will wear parts out. Take the thermal fuse, which is prone to blowing if the vent is obstructed; it is its job to shut off power in case of overheating. To put new parts in is much pricier than maintenance. Then there is the matter of safety. Lint is very flammable and a packed vent in a hard working dryer is a fire hazard. A clean line is protection for your home as well as your finances.
Frequency of Cleaning
As a rule of thumb, do it annually. Though in some homes a more frequent schedule is called for. You may want to clean it if you have a large family and do laundry several times a week, or if the vent line is full of bends. The same applies if you have pets with a lot of shedding or you sense the drying times have lengthened. If you are not certain where your line runs, it is better to check before any issues arise.
Make a Call to a Pro
Short and straight runs are easy enough to tackle on your own. But rooftop vents and other hard to get at arrangements are another matter, and can be damaged. Or perhaps the dryer has been running too hot and there is more to it than the vent; a technician should be the one to put his hands on a failing sensor or heating element.
We are here for that. Since 2023 605 Appliance Pros has been in business in the Sioux Falls area. Our founder Ashlynn Radunz has close to ten years in appliance repair and we are a women-owned, local operation. We deal in all makes and models and our pricing is straightforward with nothing hidden. Any repair we do comes with a 1-year warranty on labor and parts. We have an A+ with the BBB to show for it.
Our hours are 8 to 5 Monday to Friday. To have a free estimate and to make sure your dryer does not give out on you, ring 605 Appliance Pros at (605) 597-7421. We will put you in a position to have shorter laundry days and more cash in your pocket.