ServiceMaster Residential Care 
Residential
Environmental
Air Duct Cleaning
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Do you have any of these Warning Signs?
- Increased drying time.
- Excessive lint.
- Top of the dryer is very hot to the touch.
- Clothes are very hot after drying
- No lint on the lint screen.
- Dryer keeps shutting off during the drying cycle.
Lint and debris can build up in the clothes dryer vent blocking air flow and creating potentially hazardous conditions including the possibility for an exhaust fire or carbon monoxide intrusion (gas clothes dryers). Along with the water vapor evaporated from the wet clothes, the exhaust stream carries lint – highly flammable particles of clothing made of cotton and polyester – through the ventilation duct. Lint can accumulate in the exhaust duct, reducing the dryer’s ability to expel the heated water vapor, which then accumulates as heat energy within the machine. As the dryer overheats, mechanical failures (thermostat, limit switch, damaged screen, or crushed hose) can trigger sparks which cause the lint trapped in the dryer vent to burst into flames.
Dryer Energy Efficiency
A restricted dyer vent reduces air flow and causes your dryer to run hotter and longer, substantially impacting energy efficiency. Excess heat created by poor air flow can ruin your clothes, add dollars to your home’s energy bill and increase the wear and tear on your appliance. If your dryer takes twice as long to dry clothes as it should, the number of loads that it will dry in its lifetime is substantially reduced. Having your dryer vent cleaned helps reduce energy consumption, operating costs and the possibility of a fire.
Dryer Tips
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission* recommends that you:
- Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes.
- Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically.
- Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up.
- Keep the area around the dryer free of clutter.
- Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct.
- Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oil, cleaning agents or finishing oils and stains.
- The dryer should be vented to the outside of the home, and not under a porch or deck, or a window well.
- Avoid installing a screen at the end of the dryer vent exhaust.
- Having a safety device that tells you when your dryer vent is getting clogged is highly recommended.
