Spring Cleaning - Clothes Dryer Vent

Spring cleaning is here! We all know to go through our closests to remove unworn items, pick up those old dog toys scattered across the back lawn, emptying out the garage of various clutter, including all those empty Amazon boxes...but when was the last time you cleaned out your clothes dryer vent? No, we’re not talking about the little removable lint catcher that is in the dryer unit. We’re talking about the large air vent that connects your dryer to the outdoors. This ductwork requires routine or seasonal cleaning and should be done more often depending on your usage. Always check your manufacturer for exact requirements.

According to the US Fire Administration , “2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Failure to clean the dryer is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.”

You can hire a professional duct cleaning company to clean not only your clothes dryer duct, but all ductwork in your home. Industry recommendation is to have a professional home duct cleaning at least every 2-5 years. Alternatively, you can look up quite a few DIY techniques on YouTube to do a fairly decent job cleaning the clothes dryer duct with some basic items you probably have in your garage.

Whether you decide to DIY it or hire a seasoned professional, consider the stats from the US Fire Administration and take spring cleaning to your wash room. At Western Home Inspections, we strive to help you protect your greatest investment and all that you house within it.