While browsing through our community I have noticed several homes that have clogged dryer vents, which are a serious fire hazzard. The homes with a vertical venting system (vent on the roof top) are especially vulnerable to clogging and buildup. The picture to the right is a dryer vent on the roof top of a home in our community.Over time, your dryer vent fills with lint that sneaks by your dryer's filter. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers. Isolated incident? Not at all. The Consumer Product Saftey Commission estimates that over 15,000 dryer related fires occur each year causing an estimated 97 million dollars in property loss.
What Can You Do?
Dryer vents should be cleaned at least twice a year or more often as needed. There is a kit available that most homeowners should find affordable and effective. This kit is called the LintEater® System by Gardus. The LintEater® was designed for the homeowner by a leading manufacturer of professional duct-cleaning equipment. This system was purchased for under $35 and tested by a homeowner in our community that has a vertical roof top dryer vent. The results were awesome! Drying time for a load of towels went from 1 hr 30 minutes to only 35 minutes after cleaning the vents. If you don't have a ladder or the capability of accessing your outside dryer vent, there is always the option of having a professional clean your dryer vents as well, for a cost of approx $80-$150.
To see a video demonstration of the LintEater® , please visit http://www.linteater.com/ , and also please take a moment to read on the safety tips for dryer use, lint maintenance, and safety at http://www.linteater.com/tips/ .
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