Most homeowners empty the lint trap with every new load and think it’s adequate. While everyone should clean out their dryer vent regularly, there are some specific homeowners who should clean it out even more frequently.
Need an Orlando dryer vent cleaner?
How Often Should You Clean Out Your Dryer Vents?
While cleaning your dryer vent should happen at least once a year, there are some households that should consider doing it more often. There are some laundry habits that may result in your dryer vents getting clogged more often and needing more frequent cleaning.
What Kind of Homeowner Needs More Frequent Dryer Vent Cleaning?
Large families
If you have a large family, chances are your dryer has seen a lot of laundry in the past year. While the average household of four can get away with cleaning their dryer vents once a year, families that are larger should have their dryer vents cleaned out more frequently.
Large families tend to have the washer and dryer going more often, and even if you don’t, a lot of laundry is still being done every week. Even if your dryer is quite large, you probably end up running it much more often, and the more frequently you use your dryer, the sooner the vents will need to be cleaned.
If you have a large family, you should clean out your dryer vents at least twice a year. If your family is exceptionally large, with more than seven or eight people, then you should clean out your dryer vents even more frequently. When in doubt, contact our experts, and we can let you know how often you should clean your vents.
Pet Owners
Pet fur and dander get everywhere, even if you have a lint roller and use it every day. When you own pets, their fur gets all over your clothes, and when you do laundry, this fur gets sucked up and trapped in the dryer vents.
While removing fur will help prolong the lifespan of your dryer, you’ll still need to clean out the vents more frequently if you have pets. If you have multiple pets or pets that shed excessively, you may find yourself needing to clean out dryer vents three or more times a year just to be safe.
Bulky Loads
If you or someone in your family has a lot of bulky clothing or you do several bulky loads (such as blankets, towels, or other large laundry items), your dryer vent will clog up much quicker. Bulky loads will need to dry for longer times, and they’ll expel a lot more lint and debris into the dryer vent, so you’ll want to make sure you’re cleaning them more frequently.
If you only do bulky loads occasionally, you may not have cause for concern. If you notice that it’s taking longer for your loads to dry, though, or you find yourself running bulky loads more often, make sure you get your dryer vents checked and clean at least twice per year.
Why Should You Clean Your Dryer Vents Often?
Clogged dryer vents are a major cause of house fires. When your vents get clogged with extremely flammable lint and debris, it’s only a matter of time before disaster strikes. Many people don’t realize this, though, and put off cleaning out their dryer vents because they don’t think it’s necessary. Unfortunately, if left ignored, you put your home at risk of fire.
Conclusion
As part of routine home maintenance, it’s crucial to ensure your dryer vents are being cleaned out regularly. If you overlook this simple maintenance task, the risk of a house fire increases drastically, putting yourself and your family at risk. Fortunately, dryer fires are easy to prevent if you ensure they are cleaned regularly and frequently enough for your household.