How often do you have your appliances professionally inspected for safety? Most people have the furnace checked every year, but how often do you have your clothes dryer inspected? Sadly, most people never even think about this unless they have experienced a dryer fire. Like furnaces, clothes dryers also must be properly maintained. The dryer exhaust system should be inspected to be sure it is up to code.

UL Rating

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is the trusted source across the US for product compliance. The UL rating will be printed somewhere on all your appliances or in the owner’s manual. If your appliance is a newer model, it will most likely be UL approved, but that doesn’t mean the dryer vent system meets their approval. Most people do not think to install new dryer ducts when the get a new dryer. An old dryer exhaust system may not be UL compliant today.

Vent Tube Length

How long is the duct that leads from the back of your clothes dryer to the vent outside? The longer it is, the harder your dryer works to carry hot, moist air and lint from your home. A longer vent also increases the chance of lint sticking to the sides instead of making its way out through the vent. As the lint accumulates, air flow is restricted; lint clogged vents are a fire hazard and they reduce the efficiency of your clothes dryer, increasing your energy bills.

Bends and Elbows

Some dryer lines have a lot of bends and turns before they finally get the hot air out of your house. These turns will restrict airflow from your machine, reducing the performance of your dryer and increasing drying time for your clothes.

Duct Material

It has been discovered that screws and fasteners holding sections of dryer ducts together can cause problems. Lint catches on the protruding screws and builds up to form a clog and restrict air flow. Sections should be fastened so that there are no protrusions on the inside of the ducts.

The parts that make up your dryer exhaust and vent system must meet today’s safety codes to ensure safety and efficient performance. If you are unsure of your dryer vent system, you should have a professional who specializes in dryer vent cleaning and maintenance do an inspection. The service fee is little compared to the energy savings of a healthy dryer vent system and the reassurance that your home is safe from a fire hazard.