Dryers are great. Most people probably don’t remember life without clothes dryer. Hanging clothes on a line outside to dry was never convenient. It’s definitely nice to have a working dryer.

But sometimes people get lazy and they forget to clean out their dryer vent. Sure, you probably clean the lint guard in your dryer vent often. And that’s important.

But to be sure your home is safe from a dryer vent fire you have to do more. Cleaning out your lint guard before every load is important. But your dryer vent also needs to be cleaned regularly.

Most people never give the possibility of a dryer vent fire any thought. But they are more common than you might think. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, clothes dryers cause more than 15,000 fires every year.

That means all of that lint that builds up over time poses a real fire hazard. And it could cause severe damage to your home.

So how do you know if you need a dryer vent cleaning? As general rule, it’s a good idea to have your dryer vent cleaned once a year. If it’s been longer than a year then you might want to contact a professional dryer vent cleaner to set up a cleaning.

Another sign your dryer vent needs to be cleaned is how long it takes to dry your clothes. If it takes more than one regular cycle, there’s a good chance your fryer vent is dirty and clogged.

Getting your dryer vent cleaned is a simple job for an experienced company. And it’s a very affordable service. And it’s a very small price to pay to make sure your home and family are safe from a dryer vent fire.