Environmental issues

If you are pretty good about the maintenance of your household appliances, you are quite a bit ahead of many other people. But there are some things you may not know to check for that can still crop up and cause you problems in your clothes dryer. One of these things is making sure you have the best dryer exhaust system for your dryer.

Underwriters Laboratories

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.

Length

If your dryer is located on an upper floor or in the basement, the dryer duct will be longer as it leads to the vent outside. The dryer duct is the exhaust system that carries hot air, moisture and lint from the dryer drum to the outdoors. A longer exhaust system means your dryer will work harder to do its job. When the moist lint builds up on the sides of the vent tube, it reduces air flow and causes overheating, eventually leading to a fire. This also causes the dryer to work harder, thus, increasing your energy bills.

Twists and Turns

What does the route of your dryer vent tube look like? Does it make several turns before getting to the vent outside? These turns also restrict air flow and increase the chance of lint being caught up within the exhaust system. This reduces the performance of your clothes dryer, increases drying time, uses more energy and can be a fire hazard.

Smooth Material

What does your vent pipe feel like inside? While you may not think it matters, it does. You want the inside to be smooth and free from obstruction, like screws and fasteners, for lint to get caught on and accumulate.

No matter how energy efficient your new clothes dryer is, it will not be efficient with an older dryer vent and duct system. The parts that make up the system, the length and the path, all contribute to the overall performance of your dryer. If you are in doubt or have never had a professional inspect your dryer vent system, now is the time to call a specialist and add your clothes dryer to your annual appliance maintenance schedule.

Tags: appliance maintenance, appliance repair, clothes dryer exhaust, dryer exhaust ul standards, dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, dryer vent safety, energy conservation, fire safety, home and family, household, household appliances
Filed under: energy conservation