Most home owners are aware that keeping a clean lint trap inside your clothes dryer is very important for efficiency and safety, but some fail to realize that not everything is caught here and debris  does make its way downstream into the vent ductwork.  As this continues to build and even clog, this can single handedly become the greatest fire risk in your home or building.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 17,000 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year.  These fires cause on average 51 deaths, 380 injuries, and $238M in damages each year.  The leading cause to these fires at 34% is a clogged dryer vent.   

There are a couple key items to recognize as indicators if your vent is becoming plugged.  If your clothes are taking longer than normal to dry, if the exterior housing of the dryer itself feels warmer than usual, or the vent flaps on the exterior of your home do not seem to me moving during operation.  If you notice any of these signs its probably worth taking a closer look at the vent rather than just the dryer itself. 

As we move into spring there are also outside factors that can cause a plugged vent even though you feel you are being very diligent on the inside.  Coming into the spring months we are now faced with song birds, bees, and wasps building nests and an exposed vent opening from the outside is the perfect safe place for them to call their new home.  Be sure to frequently inspect your exterior vent cover to make sure all louvers are in place and working properly.

The best habit is to clean your dryer vent each year.  Whether you clean it yourself or hire a professional duct cleaning company, you will benefit yourself in energy costs and most importantly protect your valued possessions and loved ones.