Dryer vent fires are the number one cause of home fires

Dryer vent fires are the number one cause of home fires

 

Did you know that the lint trap on your dryer doesn’t stop lint build up in your dryer vent?  Dryer vent fires are the number one cause of home fires! Almost all of our customers tell us that they always clean the lint trap before every load of laundry.  The truth is, the lint trap stops about 25 percent of the lint that goes down your dryer vent and sticks to the walls.  The key to a safe and efficient dryer vent is a short distance from the dryer to the exterior of the house.  Unfortunately in newer homes, many of the laundry areas are placed in the center of the home.  In this case this usually causes the dryer vent to be at least 20 feet long.  In Oregon, the legal length of dryer vents is 25 feet.  There’s a catch to that 25 feet though, for every bend you have to reduce the length by five feet.  Usually at the wall where you hook up your hose from the dryer there are two 90 degree elbows where the dryer vent makes the transition from vertical to horizontal.  So, right there you’re supposed to reduce the total length of the dryer vent down to 15 feet.

Another extremely important aspect of dryer vent safety is the hookup of the hose from the dryer exhaust outlet on the wall to the hookup on the wall or the floor.  First, the type of hose that is used should be a rigid flexible aluminum hose.  This hose can be bought at any hardware or home improvement store. Second, the hose should be as short as possible, as it will make the exhaust flow much less restricted  meaning a more efficient dryer, shorter dry times and a reduced gas or electric bill. The biggest challenge of hooking up a dryer hose is not smashing it when you push the dryer back into its place.  This is one of the most common mistakes that people make when installing their dryer.  Too long of a hose between the dryer and the wall and crushing the hose when sliding the dryer into place.

There are several indications that your dryer vent could need cleaned or modified for higher efficiency.  The first indication would be that clothes are taking longer to dry.  Second, your dryer is getting hot when you’re using it and your clothes are getting ruined.  Third, you can’t see steam or hear any noise coming out of the dryer exhaust on the outside of the house.  If you notice any of these indications, you should give us a call as soon as possible to prevent a fire or damage to your dryer.

If you are concerned at all about your dryer or dryer vent, please don’t hesitate to call us today!  We would be more than happy to come do a free service inspection for your home or business.

Thank you for reading our blog!  We are proud to be serving the homes and businesses of Eugene, OR and surrounding areas!

Sincerely,

Nate Hollembaek

Owner/Operator

Advantage Air Duct Cleaning
4120 Scenic Drive
Eugene, OR 97404
541-653-8585
541-554-2853