Any homeowner knows that the list of chores and upkeep items associated with house cleaning in Village, VA is nearly infinite and seemingly never-ending. As soon as you finishing cleaning one thing another will need attention, and so on. In this way, it’s easy to fall into habits and even easier to neglect small items consistently over time.
One such cleaning item that’s frequently neglected and often goes unmaintained is your home’s dryer vents. Not only are they small and seemingly insignificant, they’re outside and inconspicuous, meaning they’re easy to miss! Unfortunately, neglecting to clean your dryer vents can have some major ramifications for your home.
Dryer vent troubles
The biggest and most pressing concern of not cleaning your dryer vent is the accumulation of lint and other fabric materials that can become lodged in the vent and any filters. This debris blocks the airflow to the outside world, which means gasses cannot be properly vented. These gasses can backflow into your home and, coupled with the lint buildups that might as well be kindling, are prone to causing fires!
Fire is far and away the biggest issue of an improperly maintained dryer vent, however it’s not the only one. If your vent is compromised, it could quickly become an inviting home for critters—especially during the winter months! Animals crawling in there could be met with a dismal fate, which means you’ve now got an entirely new problem to deal with.
Odors and poor air quality can also result from back-flowing dryer exhaust, which lower the quality of life in your home.
When is it time to clean the vent?
Ideally, it’s a good idea to take a moment to clean your dryer vents whenever you do a whole house cleaning in Village, VA. But, as mentioned above, it’s easy to forget about this simple little task! Here are a few indicators that can help remind you that it’s time to get all of the lint and debris out of your dryer vents:
- If your clothing is taking longer and longer to dry, you might have a blocked vent. If exhaust is unable to be vented, your dryer is going to suffer from inefficiency, which means more time spent drying the clothes.
- Is the dryer unit itself hot to the touch? Again, this is improperly vented exhaust gasses at work, signaling to you that there’s a problem.
- Is the hood of your exhaust vent flapping when the dryer is on? It should be! If it’s not, dig out whatever is keeping it in place and give it a thorough cleaning.
Giving your dryer vent the attention it needs to stay clean and clear of debris isn’t hard—it’s just minor! Get into the habit of cleaning your vent regularly and don’t worry about forgetting it ever again: after a couple of times, it’ll be engrained in your mind as a necessary cleaning item.