How Often Should I Get My Dryer Vent Cleaned?

How Often Should I Get My Dryer Vent Cleaned?

Your dryer vent is many times one of the most often overlooked aspects of your home. It hides behind your washer and dryer and then typically runs underneath your home until it reaches a vent somewhere outside. Most people never give their dryer vent a second thought. However, that can be a dangerous move. Dryer vents get very dirty over time and they can get backed up with a lot of lint and other debris. If left unattended that debris can lead to a fire.

Meantime, when your dryer vent is dirty and clogged it can also keep your dryer from performing efficiently. The harder your dryer has to work the quicker its lifespan is spent. Therefore, it’s very important to get your dryer vent cleaned on a regular basis.

So what exactly is a regular basis? The safest bet is to get your dryer vent inspected once a year. It will likely need to be cleaned once a year as well. If you use your dryer more than the average household, or if you dry a lot of thick or heavy clothing items, like sweaters, blankets, big coats and other similar items, then you might need to have your dryer vent inspected more regularly.

In any case, if you get it checked at least once a year then you should be able to keep your vent safe from fire and your dryer running more efficiently. Click here for more information about dryer vent cleaning in the Portland and Vancouver areas.

 

How Do My Air Ducts get Dirty?

Your air ducts are the air passageways inside your home. All of the air that comes from your furnace and your air conditioner and travels to the various rooms inside your home passes through your air ducts. Many people think that because their air ducts are hidden inside your home that they aren’t exposed to a lot of dirt and debris. However, your air ducts can be one of the dirtiest places in your home. So just how do your air ducts get dirty?

Despite our best efforts, our homes still get dirty. Dirt and dust tend to build up no matter how hard we try to keep them away. Plus, our inside air, use to be outside air at some point so that air is full of contaminants. Dust, pollen, mold spores and many other contaminants live in the air we breathe every day. All of those things enter into our homes and eventually into our air ducts.

Dust is everywhere, so everything you bring into your home can add dust and other dirty things to your air ducts. In addition, these things can get inside your air ducts through holes, cracks or leaks in your air ductwork. Any kind of opening can be the entry point of contaminants. Every time you kick up dust in your home it will likely end up in your ductwork. Over time that dust, debris and other junk builds up and your ducts eventually get clogged with all those contaminants. They are spread throughout your home every time air passes through your ducts.

That’s why it’s important to get your air ducts cleaned on a regular basis. You can find a trusted Portland and Vancouver air duct cleaning company by clicking here.