Having laundry day go off without a hitch will allow you to feel confident that you will have well-cleaned clothes ready in time for the upcoming week. When things go awry with your washer or dryer, it can be especially frustrating. However, if your laundry problems are due to clogged dryer vents, it’s not just annoying but dangerous. But what exactly are those risks, and how can you tell if the dryer vents are blocked without checking them yourself? Continue reading to find the answers to these questions.
5 Dangers of Clogged Dryer Vents
If you neglect to address clogged dryer vents, what dangers can you expect to unfold? Here are the different risks this issue can bring to your health and safety:
1. Poor Airflow
Poor airflow is an obvious symptom and danger of clogged dryer vents. Allowing debris to build up obstructs the vents, leading to clothes taking longer to dry and even negative changes in indoor air quality. A burning smell is only one part of it. Accumulated pet dander and lint can also infiltrate the air, leading to respiratory issues among members of your household. These issues include but are not limited to allergies, asthma, and others.
2. Increased Fire Hazard
Leaving dryer vents clogged can lead to an increased fire hazard in your home. The buildup of lint and other items in dryer vents increases the chances of a dryer fire happening. Lint is notably flammable and allowing it to accumulate will allow it to make contact with your dryer’s heating element, resulting in a dryer fire. For this reason, you should always clean the lint out of your dryer vent and lint trap.
3. Increased Energy Bills
While not as perilous as some of the other risks described, a sudden spike in energy bills can be a very unwelcome sight, especially if you’re someone who prefers to save instead of spend. Failing to unclog your dryer vent will lead to it overworking itself, resulting in higher-than-usual bills and decreased energy efficiency. Speaking of expenses, waiting until serious damage is inflicted upon your dryer vents can also result in a high repair bill.
4. Mold Growth
Clogged dryer vents are also an ideal environment for mold to thrive. The heat and moisture that get trapped also allow mildew to thrive. The moment you smell something moldy, you should take action to get rid of it immediately. However, if you keep your dryer vent unclogged, the chances of encountering mold or mildew will be incredibly low.
5. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Another serious danger of clogged dryer vents is the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. Just as lint buildup can ignite a dryer fire, that same overheating can lead to an increase in carbon monoxide. Having unobstructed dryer vents will easily lower the chances of this problem arising in your home. Proper ventilation is key to keeping your home carbon monoxide-free.
Call Our Dryer Vent Cleaning Experts Today!
Now that you understand the risks, both minimal and serious, of clogged dryer vents, you should be more motivated than before to do what you can to maintain them. Taking the time to clean out your dryer vent will make a positive difference for your health, safety, and finances. However, if the thought of doing your own dryer vent cleaning is intimidating, that is okay.
The good news is that you can hire an HVAC technician to take care of this matter for you. If you happen to live in the Greater Houston area or Dallas-Forth Worth, you can trust our team at Fresh Air Duct Cleaning to thoroughly clean your dryer vents. All you need to do is contact us as soon as possible to experience our best services.