Dryer Vent

Clothes Dryer Exhaust Safety – 6 Requirements You May Not Know

Before & After a Dryer Vent Cleaning

Did you know that lint and debris can build up in your clothes dryer duct? When lint buildup occurs, it can create potentially hazardous conditions, like dryer fires that can turn into devastating house fires, and carbon monoxide buildup that can poison people and pets – and even result in death. Therefore, it’s important that your clothes dryer exhaust system is properly vented outside your home.

To reduce potential hazards associated with clothes dryer exhaust, the industry has adopted certain standards. Here are 6 requirements by the International Code Council you may not know about dryer exhaust systems:

Dryer vents must be independent of all other systems and must exhaust moisture and combustion products outdoors – not into attics, crawl spaces, basements, chimneys, wall cavities or any interior room.
Dryer ducts must be constructed of rigid aluminum or galvanized steel. Plastic transition ducts cannot be used since they’re flammable. Duct interiors must have smooth surfaces with the joints running in the direction of the airflow. There shouldn’t be any sheet-metal screws, rivets or other fasteners used to connect the duct joints since these can catch lint and obstruct airflow.
Dryer ducts must be at least 4 inches in diameter and at least as large as the dryer outlet. The dryer duct can’t go into or through HVAC ducts.
Dryer ducts cannot exceed 25 feet in length. Note: Each 90-degree turn that the duct makes, adds 5 feet to the actual length. Often newer homes have laundry rooms that are located away from outside walls, which results in longer venting distances and more possible bends. This can make dryer ducts harder to access and create more surfaces for lint to build up on.
Flexible transition ducts cannot be used in an attic, crawl space or inside a wall.
The exhaust vent termination hood must be equipped with a back draft damper to keep moisture/exhaust from coming back into your home and small animals out of your home. This exhaust termination outlet must not be covered with a screen.

To make sure your dryer exhaust system is sized and installed correctly, have it checked by T.J.’s Chimney Service. Also schedule a dryer vent cleaning by calling us at 317-455-5310. An annual dryer vent cleaning will ensure your clothes dryer continues to work safely and efficiently.

4 Misconceptions Associated with Dryer Vent Cleaning

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

Do you know where your dryer vent is located? If we took a poll, a lot of people would probably say it’s the lint trap that they clean out after every load of laundry. Others might say it’s the hose that connects the dryer to wall. In actuality, your dryer vent system includes the hose that runs from your dryer, through the wall(s) and to the vent hood that’s located on the exterior of your home. This is just one misconception people have when it comes to dryer vents. Below are 4 misconceptions concerning the need for dryer vent cleaning.

Dryer vents don’t need to be cleaned. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, clothes dryers caused an estimated 6,000 residential fires from 2010 to 2012. Of these 6,000 residential fires, on average, 10 deaths and 210 injuries occurred. And these fires caused an estimated $79.3 million in damages. The failure to remove lint buildup in the dryer vent system is the number one reason for dryer fires.
I always clean out my dryer vent before I dry a load of clothes, so I don’t need dryer vent cleaning. Only about 70% of the lint in your dryer is trapped in the lint trap. The rest is blown through your dryer vent system where it can build up on the walls of your vent hose over time – eventually causing a variety of problems.
The lint that doesn’t get trapped in the lint trap is expelled outside my home. Unfortunately, a clothes dryer only has so much power to push wet, heavy lint so far. Therefore, it’s inevitable that some of it is going to get left behind in your dryer vent system. In fact, as lint builds up in your dryer vent, the air flow is reduced even more, causing even more lint buildup.
I’m getting a new dryer. I don’t need to clean my vents. When you get rid of your old dryer, that’s the best time to have your dryer vents cleaned by a trained service professional, like those with T.J.’s Chimney Service. After all, you want your new dryer to operate at its maximum efficiency. But if the vent system is clogged with lint buildup, your new dryer isn’t going to work as efficiently as you would like. In fact, some newer models of dryers are designed with a shut off. So if the vent doesn’t have the proper air flow needed for the dryer to work safely and efficiently, the dryer will shut off.

To make sure your dryer is working safely and efficiently, have your dryer vents cleaned at least once a year. Contact T.J.’s Chimney Service, located in Greenfield, Ind., to schedule your dryer vent inspection and cleaning today!

5 Benefits of Cleaning Your Dryer Vent

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

clean-571679_1280 How many loads of laundry do you do each week? According to Proctor & Gamble Co., the average U.S. household does 600 loads of laundry each year. And a 2007 survey of 2,500 Whirlpool customers found that 78% of those surveyed do about nine loads of laundry a week. That’s a lot of dirty clothes that we’re washing and drying. While you’re throwing your laundry into the dryer, how much thought are you giving to cleaning your dryer vent?

Sure, most people know that lint collects in the dryer’s lint filter. And they may even be cleaning out the filter before or after each load. But do you know that lint can become trapped inside your dryer and your dryer’s vent system?

Cleaning your dryer vent is a home maintenance task that you really should be doing to protect your home and family. Here are some benefits you can gain by regularly cleaning your dryer vent:

Reduced risk of a house fire. Lint is a leading cause of combustion and accounts for 28% of all residential dryer fires, according to the National Fire Incident Reporting System. From 2007-2011, dryers accounted for about 15,200 fires, 30 deaths, 460 injuries and $216 million in property damages per the National Fire Protection Association. Failure to the clean dryer vent is a contributing cause in many dryer fires.
Lowered energy costs. Lint buildup in your dryer vent means your dryer will take longer to dry your clothes. And that means, you’ll have to run your dryer more, which leads to higher utility bills. By cleaning your dryer vent, your dryer will run more efficiently and save you money.
Increased life of your clothes. When your dryer vent is blocked, your dryer can overheat, damaging the fibers in your clothes. Additionally, you’ll have to run your clothes through your dryer longer, which can cause the clothing fibers to wear out faster.
More time to do the activities you enjoy. On average, a full load of laundry takes about 50-60 minutes to dry. But when your dryer vent is clogged, it may take twice as long for clothes to dry. A clean dryer vent means you can finish your laundry quicker, so you have more time to do what you want to do.
Extended dryer life. A blocked dryer vent can cause your dryer to work harder, which means it can wear down faster, requiring costly maintenance repairs. Also lint buildup can cause your dryer to overheat, damaging sensitive sensors. Properly maintained dryer vents enable your dryer to work more efficiently, extending the life of your dryer.

At T.J.’s Chimney Service, we recommend that you should have your dryer vent cleaned professionally at least every 18-24 months. But you need to consider how often you run your dryer. A family of five requires more loads of laundry than one person or a couple. So depending upon your laundry needs, you may need to clean your vents more often. Call us today at 317-455-5310 to schedule your dryer vent cleaning appointment, so you can start reaping the benefits of a clean vent system.

Problems Caused by Frozen Dryer Vents

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

snow covered house How often do you check your outside dryer vent during the winter? If you’re like most people, you probably said, “Never.” However, during the winter, your dryer vent flapper can freeze shut due to rain and falling temperatures. Or, snow can pile up around your outside dryer vent. When you run your dryer, the snow will melt. Once the dryer shuts off, the water will refreeze the louvers shut.

Your dryer vent plays an essential role in drying your clothes. It helps expel hot air and moisture from the dryer to the outdoors. If you didn’t have a dryer vent, all the hot air and moisture would end up in your home where it could cause wood rot and mold growth among other issues.

During the winter, if your dryer vent flapper were to freeze shut, the following problems could occur:

Your dryer wouldn’t operate properly. You may find that it takes longer to dry your clothes. Your clothing may feel hotter than usual at the end of the drying cycle. Or, your dryer may shut off before the end of its cycle.

Airflow to your dryer would be reduced. When your dryer’s vent flapper can’t open properly, fresh air can’t get into your dryer. Therefore, your dryer wouldn’t work properly and could overheat, leading to a home fire. About 20,000 dryer fires occur in the United States each year. And 32% of these fires are due to a malfunction like frozen vents.

Lint can build up inside your dryer. Lint buildup can cause your dryer to overheat and eventually catch fire. Some signs of excess lint are lint buildup inside and outside your dryer and lint blowing out into the room.

If you have a gas dryer, you and your family could become sick – or even die – from carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that’s produced when natural gas is burned. When your vent is blocked, carbon monoxide can escape into your home.

If you find that your dryer vent has frozen shut, a simple solution is to use a hair dryer to melt the snow and ice. Wipe each louver dry with a cloth. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the inside lower edge of each louver with your finger. The petroleum jelly will help prevent the louvers from freezing together and cause water to flow away from the edges.

As a long-term solution to make sure your dryer continues to operate efficiently, contact T.J.’s Chimney Service and have your dryer vents thoroughly inspected and cleaned. Each year about 32% of home fires are caused by the homeowner’s failure to properly clean their dryer. So reduce your risk of a dryer fire by having your vents professionally serviced by T.J.’s Chimney Service.

5 Warning Signs Your Dryer Vent Needs Cleaning

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

Imagine you go into your laundry room to check on the clothes in the dryer and you find that the room is on fire. From 2009 to 2011, on average, 6,000 residential fires were caused by clothes dryers, resulting in $75.3 million of damage, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

When lint and other debris build up in your dryer hose and vent duct, air flow can be reduced or blocked, causing your dryer to overheat and eventually spark a fire. Signs that your dryer vent is likely clogged with excess lint include:

Clothes take a longer time to dry. If clothes are hot and damp at the end of the cycle and require another cycle to finish drying, the vent is probably blocked. The dryer is designed to push the heat and moisture out the vent while drying. If that heat and moisture can’t get out of the dryer due to a blockage, the dryer will work harder, building up heat which can lead to a fire.

The top of the dryer is hot to the touch while it’s running. If your dryer is hot to the touch, it means heat isn’t being exhausted out of the dryer properly due to a blockage. A clogged dryer vent can cause the dryer’s heating element to overheat, leading to a fire.

The dryer keeps shutting off before the end of the cycle. If your dryer shuts itself off during a normal drying cycle, your dryer is overheating. Lint buildup can cause your dryer to work harder and overheat. An overheated dryer can lead to a fire, but the overheat shutoff helps keep the dryer from catching on fire.

The outside dryer vent hood flap isn’t opening properly when the dryer is running. Lint buildup can restrict air flow through the dryer hose and outside vent opening, causing the flap to not open like it’s been designed to do.

It’s been over a year since you’ve had your dryer vent inspected and cleaned. Appliance manufacturers recommend you have your dryer inspected and cleaned annually to ensure it’s working properly. To reduce the risk of dryer fires, hire a professional vent cleaning company like T.J.’s Chimney Service, located in Greenfield, IN, for a thorough dryer vent inspection and cleaning. Our trained technicians can resolve any issues before they become more serious problems. Plus when your dryer is operating more efficiently, you can save on your energy bills. Call us today at 317-455-5310 to schedule your appointment.

Duct Cleaning Saves Money and Energy

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you noticed that your utility bills have gone up in recent months? Are your utility bills higher than those of your neighbors? Do you have rooms in your home that are hard to keep a comfortable temperature, for example, cool in the summer or warm in the winter? Have you noticed that dust quickly reappears on surfaces in your home after you’ve cleaned? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your home’s ductwork likely needs to be cleaned.

A dirty or clogged duct system can contribute to the inefficiency of your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, causing your utility bills to rise. And, with energy costs on the rise anyway, who wants to pay more if you don’t have to?

A professional duct cleaning performed by T. J.’s Chimney Service of Greenfield, IN, can save you money in the long run by:

Improving your HVAC system’s energy efficiency. When dust and debris builds up inside your ductwork, the air flow within your HVAC system is reduced. Therefore, your system has to run longer and more often to heat and cool your home, using more energy. But when your ducts are clean, your system doesn’t have to work as hard to move air through your home. So less energy is used, saving you money on operating costs.
Protecting your HVAC equipment. Dust particles within your ductwork can travel to your HVAC equipment, reducing its efficiency and performance. Overtime, dust buildup can even damage your equipment. But regular air duct cleaning can ensure your equipment performs more efficiently. So, it’ll require fewer repairs and operate longer, saving you money.

In fact, by cleaning and sealing your home’s ductwork, Energy Star, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program, reports you can improve your HVAC system’s energy efficiency by up to 20%. Which means, you’ll save money on your utility bills to heat and cool your home.

So, if your air ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris, and/or dust particles are actually being released into your home from your supply registers, the EPA recommends that you have your air ducts cleaned.

To schedule your duct cleaning appointment, contact the experts at T. J.’s Chimney Service by calling 317-455-5310 or completing our online request form.

Dryer Lint Increases Fire Risk

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

At least once a week – maybe more – you likely do laundry. After you wash your clothes, you throw them into the dryer – probably without too much thought about it. But did you know clothes dryers cause about 2,900 fires each year in residential buildings? According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), lint is a leading cause of combustion, accounting for 28% of all residential dryer fires.

What Is Lint?

Lint is made up of small fibers from clothes and other debris found on or in your clothes. It’s created as your clothes tumble in the dryer’s drum. While much of it collects in the dryer’s lint filter, some of it can become trapped inside your dryer and the rest is carried on the moist air through the vent system, where it sticks and accumulates.

How Can Lint Cause Fires?
Lint is a highly combustible material. It can collect on the electrical wiring inside and outside of your dryer. If a spark occurs due to wiring issues, lint can fuel this spark, leading to a fire. Also, since lint can build up on your dryer’s heating element and in the vent system, it can cause your dryer to overheat due to overwork. A spark can then occur, igniting any lint present.

What Can You Do to Prevent a Lint Fire from Occurring?

There are several steps you can take to protect your home from a dryer lint fire:

Clean the lint filter before every load – even if it’s just a small amount.
Clean the lint filter with soapy water and a nylon brush at least every 6 months or more frequently if it becomes clogged.
Don’t operate your dryer without the lint filter in place or if it becomes damaged or clogged.
Clean the outside of your dryer regularly, especially the back where lint can build up.
Clean the inside of your dryer regularly. Remove the lint filter, and with a lint brush or vacuum attachment, remove any accumulated lint inside your dryer. At least once a year, have a qualified service technician vacuum the lint out of your dryer.
Disconnect, inspect and clean the dryer vent regularly. Or, hire a professional dryer vent cleaning company, likeT.J.’s Chimney Service in Greenfield, IN, to clean those hard-to-reach vents. Our technicians will inspect your dryer ducts for any issues affecting the operation of your dryer and clean the lint from your dryer vents. A thoroughdryer vent cleaning not only can protect your family from a fire, but it can help increase your dryer’s efficiency and lifespan.Contact T.J.’s Chimney Service today to schedule yourdryer vent inspection and cleaning.

Reduce Your Allergy Symptoms with Air Duct Cleaning

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

Woman Sneezing Are you sneezing? Do you have a runny nose and/or watery eyes? You’re probably suffering from allergies. You could stay inside your home all day to reduce your exposure to pollens, but who wants to do that all summer? And, if you’re allergic to dust, molds or pet dander, staying inside won’t limit your exposure to these allergens. In fact, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, more than half of all homes contain at least six detectable allergens. So what can you do? Many people assume their home’s air conditioning (AC) system will filter the air, removing any possible allergens. However, that’s not always the case (especially depending on the type of air filter your system uses). Once the contaminants are inside your home, your AC system can continually recirculate them. Plus, your AC system can actually encourage the development of mold. When cool air flows through the air ducts in warmer areas of your home, like the attic, condensation can form. This moisture creates an ideal environment in which molds grow. One way you can reduce the amount of allergens in your home is to have your air ducts cleaned. Air duct cleaning removes dust, dirt, pet hair and dander found inside your home’s duct system, so less of these allergy-aggravating particles will circulate through the air. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says there’s not enough evidence to determine whether air duct cleaning can actually prevent allergies, it does suggest you should have your air ducts cleaned if:

The surfaces of your ducts or other AC components have substantial, visible mold on them.
Rodents, insects or other vermin are living in your ducts.
The ducts are clogged with dust and debris that’s being released into your home through the air supply registers.

How can you tell if you need to have your ducts cleaned?

Your home has a musty or moldy smell.
You see dust or dirt on the air vents or on the ceiling or wall above the vents.
Dust accumulates on surfaces quickly after removing it.
You start sneezing when you’re near an air vent.

If you’re tired of suffering from allergies, schedule a duct cleaning appointment with T.J.’s Chimney Service in Greenfield, IN. We’ll clean all the registers, vents and cold air returns in your home – sanitizing and deodorizing each vent, too. An average home with 20 or less vents takes between two and three hours to clean. Get rid of the allergens in your home and breathe easier – contact T.J.’s Chimney Service today.

Which Is Better….Professional Service or DIY?

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

Now is the time when many homeowners are thinking about making home improvements. Money may also be a factor when deciding to make an improvement or not. Many may take the stance of tackling the project themselves in order to save some funds and prevent their savings from being depleted. There are many things to consider before starting a DIY (do it yourself) project. Although do-it-yourself home improvements do have their benefits, it is important that you determine which projects can be done on your own and which would be better off in the hands of a qualified contractor. Small projects like painting a room is an easy project that can simply be done and won’t take up much of your time. Larger and more detailed projects like cleaning dryer vents or cleaning a chimney are projects that are better left in the hands of a professional. It may cost more but the extra cost is worth it in the end to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. Professionals have experience and will have the knowledge to fix any issues or snags that pop up while a job is being completed. A professional will also be able to better determine what repairs are necessary and what repairs you do not need. Hiring a professional may seem like a headache but in the end it is the best way to keep your home in top condition and avoid injury to yourself or family. Choosing a professional to help with home improvements does not have to be stressful or daunting. The first step is finding a professional that you can trust. We would like to help you with taking that first step! We offer many different services specific to dryer vent cleaning and chimneys and would be happy to help determine what repairs are needed to get your home in tip top shape. Simply give us a call 317-462-4759.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

If you have had your dryer for a number of years it is probably time that you have the dryer vent and dryer catcher cleaned by a professional. There are many steps that go into cleaning the dryer properly. We highly recommend having a professional, like TJ’s Chimney Service, to come out and clean and check your dryer vents to make sure that everything is working properly. There are many different manufactures of dryers and they are not necessarily all alike. We have experience with many different dryers and will be able to assist you. Having your dryer vents and dryer filters cleaned every year or every few years is very important. Many house fires have been started because of lint build up. Lint is highly combustible material that can build up in the dryer vent and dryer filter, so it is important that you have your appliance cleaned regularly. For more interesting facts check our previous blog Is Your Dryer Vent A Hazard. If you are curious as to what the process of cleaning the vents and dryer filters are we found a YouTube video created by Appliance Help Online that walks through the steps of cleaning a dryer. This video was done by a professional appliance mechanic and we highly recommend that you seek a professional service to complete this task to ensure the safety of you and your home. Not only will cleaning the vents decrease your chance of fire it will also help cut down on drying time of each load of clothes. Who wouldn’t be happy with that? Your dryer vent and filter should be cleaned every year. If you dry more than four loads a day you may want to have the vent and filter cleaned every six months. Give us a call today 317-462-4759 to discuss our services.