Most people have good intentions when it comes to having regular maintenance done on their appliances. The clothes dryer is often neglected as people are not aware of the problems that can be lurking here. It is important that your dryer exhaust and vent system be up to code.

UL Rating

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is the trusted source across the US for product compliance. The UL rating will be printed somewhere on all your appliances or in the owner’s manual. If your appliance is a newer model, it will most likely be UL approved, but that doesn’t mean the dryer vent system meets their approval. Most people do not think to install new dryer ducts when the get a new dryer. An old dryer exhaust system may not be UL compliant today.

Length

If your dryer is located on an upper floor or in the basement, the dryer duct will be longer as it leads to the vent outside. The dryer duct is the exhaust system that carries hot air, moisture and lint from the dryer drum to the outdoors. A longer exhaust system means your dryer will work harder to do its job. When the moist lint builds up on the sides of the vent tube, it reduces air flow and causes overheating, eventually leading to a fire. This also causes the dryer to work harder, thus, increasing your energy bills.

Bends and Elbows

What does the route of your dryer vent tube look like? Does it make several turns before getting to the vent outside? These turns also restrict air flow and increase the chance of lint being caught up within the exhaust system. This reduces the performance of your clothes dryer, increases drying time, uses more energy and can be a fire hazard.

Rough Inside

It has been discovered that screws and fasteners holding sections of dryer ducts together can cause problems. Lint catches on the protruding screws and builds up to form a clog and restrict air flow. Sections should be fastened so that there are no protrusions on the inside of the ducts.

The parts that make up your dryer exhaust and vent system must meet today’s safety codes to ensure safety and efficient performance. If you are unsure of your dryer vent system, you should have a professional who specializes in dryer vent cleaning and maintenance do an inspection. The service fee is little compared to the energy savings of a healthy dryer vent system and the reassurance that your home is safe from a fire hazard.