After telling you all about the importance of the Chimney Safety Institute of America’s (CSIA) chimney sweep certification, Ashbusters would like to tell you all about the organization’s dryer vent technician certified credential (C-DET), including what it means and why it is so important to hire a CSIA-certified technician to clean and service the venting system of your clothes dryer once a year. An annual professional dryer vent cleaning is recommended by the CSIA, the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), and other fire safety groups due to the U.S. Fire Administration’s report of 15,000 structure fires, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries each year between 2002 and 2004 — all caused by clothes dryers. While a small percentage of these fires, deaths, and injuries were caused by electrical issues, the major cause of these clothes dryer-related incidents is a dirty venting system. At Ashbusters, we are proud to have CSIA-certified dryer exhaust technicians on our staff to professionally clean your clothes dryer vents and prevent a devastating residential fire. So that you can understand why the C-DET credential is so important, we would like to share more about the certification process with you.
What is a C-DET?
The C-DET, or CSIA-Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician program focuses on a comprehensive test, which is given and scored by the CSIA. This exam tests a dryer vent technician’s knowledge and understanding of the basic information they must master to become expert dryer exhaust safety and fire prevention specialists.
What topics are on the C-DET exam?
To pass this test and receive the C-DET certification, technicians must know all applicable building codes, the NFPA standards 54 and 211, and every aspect of inspecting and cleaning residential and commercial dryer exhaust systems.
How does one prepare for a C-DET exam?
There are two different ways offered by the CSIA to review for the certification exam. You can go to a two-day workshop training session at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield, IL, or you can go to a one-day training session sponsored by CSIA in various cities across the country. The in-person training focuses on teaching technicians how to use the specific tools to clean dryer vents, how to test the venting system’s performance, and how to repair residential systems. The two-day workshops also provide training with commercial systems as well as installation and routing demonstrations.
If none of the in-person training sessions are within driving distance from you, you can register for the CSIA’s online training session, which will be available to you for a week. In the online training session, daily readings rom the CSIA-Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician study manual will be assigned, along with four online lessons and interactive quizzes geared to help you pass the C-DET exam.
How does one officially earn the C-DET credential?
Applicants must score 80 percent or higher on the Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians test to earn this certified credential from the CSIA. If you score below 80 percent, you will have a chance to retake the exam at a lower cost; however, you must retake the exam within six months to be eligible for the discounted price. This credential must be renewed every three years by either retaking the exam or participating in a review session.
Have more questions about the C-DET credential? Contact Ashbusters today to find out why you can trust us to provide you with a proper and safe cleaning of your dryer vent exhaust system.