When a dryer is not drying properly, most people will open the screen, remove the lint, and go about their business. For some reason, they never seem to think about cleaning out the dryer vents. This is a big mistake, as there are several consequences from not having your dryer vents cleaned on a regular basis.
If your dryer is taking too long to dry clothing, there are several reasons for this. The first is that the dryer may simply be old and not performing as it once did. The second is the dryer lint screen is dirty. The third reason, and the most dangerous one, is that the dryer vents are filled with lint and need to be cleaned out.
A dryer vent that is loaded with lint will not be able to circulate the air properly and will, therefore, take longer to dry clothing. Over the course of the year, this will significantly increase your electric bill. However, that is not the only concern. If allowed to accumulate, this could cause a house fire.
Did you know that thousands of fires occur every year that are directly related to dryer vents? With lint being extremely combustible, it is susceptible to ignition by a mere spark from a malfunctioning dryer. It will take only a matter of minutes for the fire to rage out of control and consume the home. However, with regular cleaning, this is completely avoidable.
Cleaning your dryer vents on a regular basis simply makes sense. This can be done by the homeowner to an extent, but it is still recommended to schedule a professional cleaning a couple of times a year. Commercial equipment is much stronger than a home vacuum and offers a bit more peace of mind that the vents are completely clean and safe to use.