Why Does a Clogged Dryer Vent Pose a Fire Risk?

A dryer is an essential appliance in most homes and consistently aids in household laundry. If you are like many other homeowners, you might take for granted that your dryer will continue to do its job without any issues or risks. Unfortunately, your dryer can pose a significant risk if improperly maintained. Lowe’s Air Duct Cleaning will discuss that risk and the best way to ensure your dryer is safe through annual dryer vent cleaning.

How Does a Dryer Vent Work?

Before you can understand the risk of a dryer vent, you need to know how it works in the first place. Your dryer generates a lot of heat as it dries each load of laundry. The hot, moist air is expelled through the dryer vent and outside your home. The dryer vent keeps the air flowing so your dryer can dry the laundry safely and efficiently. 

How Does the Vent Become Clogged?

Lint will accumulate in the dryer vent with each load of laundry that is dried. You can help reduce the lint by cleaning out the lint trap after each dry cycle, but that is not enough to maintain a safely operating dryer. Over time, the lint will build up in your vent, leading to clogs. A clogged vent will restrict the airflow and trap the hot air inside your dryer with no way to escape.

How Does a Clog Create a Fire Risk?

Unfortunately, lint is highly flammable. If your dryer vent is clogged with these particles, hot air will accumulate inside your dryer, and the temperature could increase to dangerous levels. It wouldn’t take much for the lint to ignite, causing a fire. That is why Lowe’s Air Duct Cleaning recommends dryer vent cleaning each year to avoid this risk.

Find Dryer Vent Cleaning Near You

According to FEMA, the leading cause of dryer fires in homes from 2018-2020 was failing to clean the vent. Lowe’s Air Duct Cleaning wants to help you avoid the risk of a dryer fire with our dryer vent cleaning service. Contact us today at (800) 699-0955 to find special pricing for dryer vent cleaning in your area. We help customers with this valuable service from locations in several states throughout the United States.