As long as the laundry system continues to clean clothing, most people ignore this hard-working appliance. Being proactive about its care, however, will keep the system running for many years. As San Antonio’s mild winter sets in, take the time to hire a professional for your dryer. The off-season is a perfect time to prioritize dryer vent cleaning with professionals who know what to look for at each appointment.
More Than Just the Lint Screen
Servicing the dryer and air duct cleaning is often perceived as overkill in the service industry. Air moves through these areas with great speed. It shouldn’t be necessary to clean them. This perception couldn’t be more wrong. Service professionals don’t just clean out the lint screen. They’ll certainly inspect and clear it out as necessary, but they go deeper.
The experts determine if a lint screen requires repair or replacement. They expand their inspection to the dryer’s external air flow either to the outside of your home through a wall or a vent in the roof. If airflow is clogged, this is the obstruction that leads to fire hazards over time. Controlling these hazards is the priority.
Diving Deep Into the Dryer Vent Cleaning
After clearing the lint screen, most people replace it and go about their day. Professional, dryer vent cleaning is different. The lint screen remains off as the inspection continues. Flashlights illuminate the dryer’s internal parts where the screen connects to the appliance. Lint typically gathers below the screen over time. The experts use vacuums to suck out all of the lint from the observable areas. Further work might be necessary by removing the drum in some cases.
Pulling Out the Appliance
Air duct cleaning has its challenges because the pathways are fixed in the walls. Cleaning the dryer is much easier in comparison. Professionals have a chance to pull the dryer out from the wall. They disconnect power and the external vent hose and inspect the back area. It’s not unusual for lint to adhere to any part of the back section because of static electricity. The dryer continually produces this clinging action. Vacuuming the rear is part of every service. You might also have a collection of moist lint which is an obvious sign of bad air flow which must be corrected.
Checking the Sensors
Laundry dryers aren’t without their electronic advancements. During air duct cleaning, the experts only worry about the conduit’s internal surfaces. The dryer, in contrast, has electronics up for inspection. Temperature sensors reside in several areas around the dryer’s drum, including the lint screen. They test the sensors and clean them off when necessary. Properly working sensors tell the system when the clothes are dry for each cycle. Without sensors, overheating are the results that could cause a fire.
Cleaning Out the Vent Hose
Don’t be surprised if the professional takes off the flexible hose attached to the dryer. These wide conduits offer a pathway for humid air as your clothes dry. Lint does get stuck in these areas. Vacuums and other tools clean out the ducts with ease. It’s much easier to clean them when they’re detached from the system. The professionals lay the ducts out for a thorough inspection.
Inspecting the Vent and Screen Covers
A final check of the laundry system involves the vent and screen covers at the dryer and exhaust wall. Screen covers protect the system from any pests that might enter the main housing. Broken or loose screens are priorities for service personnel. The wall vents should also be tightly attached to the building. Efficient systems move hot air away from the clothes.
Work with a dryer vent cleaning service, such as Steamer’s Carpet Care, to improve your system’s longevity. An annual cleaning is all that’s necessary to keep your household safe from any sparks and laundry-room fires. Preventive care is the key to minimal maintenance on any appliance.
