Increased drying time is the most commonly noticed warning sign of excessive lint build-up in the dryer vent system. Other signs include excessive heat and moisture in the room while the dryer is running, the top of the dryer is hot to touch when running, the dryer repeatedly shuts off during a cycle, clothes are hot or have a moldy smell after a cycle, or there is little to no visible lint on the lint screen.
All of these are signs of blocked air-flow which cause a dryer to over work, over heat, and eventually either malfunction or cause a fire. As the dryer stresses to do its job, it is using significantly more energy. Poorly vented dryers can cost an additional $300 per year to operate. Poorly vented gas dryers can be a carbon monoxide threat.
As a dryer vent service specialist, I am often asked about the LintAlert. This is a device that attaches to the dryer and monitors the amount of lint building up. It plugs into a wall socket and has a small hose that attaches to the dryer’s exhaust.
As pressure builds the lights on the LintAlert change from green to yellow to red and then the device sounds an alarm if there is significant blockage. Considering there are over 17,000 dryer related fires each year, with most of them being caused by failure to clean dryer vents, devices such as the LintAlert are a step in the right direction.
My only concern is what if the device fails to work? How does the consumer know that the device is functioning properly if no lights come on? Would they ignore other signs of lint build-up if the device didn’t indicate any danger?
As mentioned above, there are many warning signs that indicate the need for dryer vent cleaning. Professional dryer vent cleaning technicians will do more than clean the dryer vent. I perform a complete inspection of the dryer vent system and explain any upgrades recommended to make the dryer operate more safely and efficiently. I will also remove the back of the dryer and clean the lint from inside the dryer cabinet.
Whether or not to install the LintAlert is up to the individual. The bottom line is being safe. Have a qualified professional install your clothes dryer and your dryer vent system. Have your dryer vent system inspected annually for safety and efficiency and have dryer vent cleaning performed regularly.
Webb Dickson owns Dryer Vent Wizard serving New Hampshire and the Cambridge-Framingham-Newton area in Massachusetts. Dryer Vent Wizard works to promote Dry Clothes, Safe Homes and in our tough economy, energy savings. According to the Multi-Housing Laundry Association (MHLA) and Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory (LBL), an inefficient dryer vent can cost you between $18 and $24 more a month on your energy bill. That’s $219 to $285 per year!
Webb Dickson of Dryer Vent Wizard provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, dryer vent installation, dryer vent inspections and all dryer vent services for homes and businesses in New Hampshire, Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Portsmouth, Derry, Bedford, Keene, Milford, Middlesex and Essex County, Massachusetts, Lowell, Billerica, Burlington, Westford, Concord, Stow, Marlborough, Natick, Hopkinton, Framingham, Gloucester, Middleton, Newburyport, Haverhill, Lawrence, Beverly and neighboring cities and communities.
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