Most homeowners take for granted the ability to do their laundry at home. While the rest of the world trudges to the laundromat, we relax in style and comfort and take care of this chore without leaving the house. It’s a pretty nice perk, right? But don’t get too comfortable. There is a hidden danger that comes along with this convenience, and it involves your dryer vent. Without regular cleaning, you could subject your home and family to fire, indoor air pollutants, and even carbon monoxide poisoning if your appliance utilizes gas. Plus, when you don’t do regular dryer vent cleaning, your dryer works inefficiently, uses more energy to operate, and could malfunction or break down altogether. That vent naturally becomes clogged with lint and other debris over time, and if you aren’t making sure it’s cleaned regularly, you could be headed for trouble.

How To Tell If Dryer Your Vent Needs Cleaning

As important as dryer vent cleaning is, it is equally important that you recognize when it is time to do it. This time frame could be different for every homeowner, depending on the amount of usage the dryer is getting and the types of materials you typically launder. Here are some signs to watch out for that indicate it needs to be done.

• Your clothes are taking much longer to dry now than they used to, and your laundry has an unpleasant, musty odor from being wet for too long.
• The laundry room is overly stuffy and warm when the dryer is running or your clothes are much hotter than they used to be.
• When the dryer is running, you don’t feel a strong, steady airflow coming out of your vent.
• Something smells like it is burning, which could be lint in the vent. (Did you know lint is so flammable that you can use it as a fire starter?)
• Also, your electric bill spikes without any other obvious reason for the increase.

Did any of that sound familiar? All of the above situations could indicate that a dangerous blockage is forming, it is time for a dryer vent cleaning, and there is probably no time to lose. Furthermore, even if you haven’t noticed any signs, and it has been a year or more since your last dryer vent cleaning, it is also time. Sometimes those clues can be subtle and go unnoticed. Adhering to an annual schedule is smart, and it can help prevent a tragedy and give you invaluable peace of mind.

The A-1 Preferred Way

While the cleaning process may be necessary, it is certainly not easy. It’s a complicated procedure, and most homeowners don’t have the proper tools or even know where to start. But you don’t have to do it yourself. Your best choice is an experienced, licensed professional. In Sioux City or Sioux Falls, you can entrust this critical task to the friendly experts at A-1 Preferred. We offer terrific pricing and the top-rated dryer vent cleaning service in town. Please contact us today for an estimate or to learn more about our services.