Dryer Vents Do’s and Don’ts – Tips, Questions Answered: We love our homes and chores made easier with machines only make life better for everyone. Among such machines is the dryer. Imagine these machines that make life easy in our homes being potential forms of danger to us still. There are hazards that are associated with those electricity consuming appliances in our homes. If you need 2D and 3D floor plans, 2D to 3D floor plan conversion, 3D exterior rendering services, 3D interior rendering services, then we can assist you in a better way.
The dryer, for instance, can cause fires in the home if they are not properly cleaned out. Handling our dryers involves caution Andrew constant maintenance. While there are a few things we can do to keep it working, there are other things not to do. This article presents important tips to help us handle our dryers and dryer vents for a less likely danger for while we use it.
Do’s for our dryer vents.
- Installation:
When it comes to dryer vents, the first most important thing is the installation of the dryer. This must be done by a professional.
- Insulation:
When you insulate your vents, you avoid moisture issues. Insulation helps to eliminate moist air that can freeze in the pipe.
- Cleaning:
Your dryer vents should always be cleaned because a clean vent makes for an efficient dryer. You can lean regularly by removing it, clearing it and replacing it properly. If it is difficult it has been clogged, it is better to employ the services of a professional.
- Use:
You might want to block pests by using a cane for your vents. This would only aid the build-up of and potential fires.
You should also have an ABC fire extinguisher close by, should there be a fire outbreak.
Don’ts for our dryer vents
- Do not channel your vent inside your home.
Dryer vents should be channeled outside the house to prevent the moist and warm air from entering the house. This can lead to a build-up of mold and can lead to structural damage. Aside from that, the air also carries lint which is a recipe for fires. Nobody wants to have a fire start in their homes because of their dryer vents. So, do not channel the dryer vents into your homes or basements.
- Do not use duct tape or screws and bolts for connection:
Duct taped might seem like a great idea to just hold a part together but they aren’t that great after a while. The adhesive does not last very long and it wears off after some time (some thanks to the heat). Now you can imagine the connection coming off. Not that great right?
Screws and bolts attract lint and that, as discussed several, is a potential for hazard. So be careful and don’t use screws and bolts for your dryer vents.
- Do not use plastic materials or PVC for your dryer vent:
It is common for some people to use PVC pipes or materials made of plastic for their dryer vents and this is wrong.
- Do not ignore warning signs
Should your dryer stay acting up or show any sign of malfunction, do not ignore it.
- Do not dry every cloth with your dryer
In as much as we want to wait easily, it isn’t every cloth that your dryer should dry. Some clothes have volatile/flammable materials in them. Avoid doing such clothes with your dryer.
- Don’t leave your dryer whole it’s working.
“It is a machine, I can just stop by while it runs” “maybe I can take a nap, I have set it already” No way! You should not leave your dryer working on its own. It might be a machine but you don’t know what can happen the next minute so always be close to your dryer whole it is working.
While the drying system helps us get our laundry done very fast, we need to be very careful so we do not aid disasters in our homes.
Dryer Vents for Houses
Dryer vents are passages that you install at some point in the house to quicken the drying of clothes. You can fix one at the back of your dryer, with its other end leading into the open outside. Over time, the moisture and lint on the clothes in the drier travels through the vent towards the outside. It helps moisture not accumulate inside the house, which would be the case if you hang the clothes on a line.
But is it efficient to install a dryer vent at your home? You need to look at whether there is even the need for a dryer vent. If so, what are the best vents to put up? How much will the operation cost? In the long run, is it safe to have an open passage that leads outside your home? The answers to these questions vary according to the condition of your home.
Does Your Dryer Need a Vent?
Although a vent is not a must for a dryer, you should install one with the dryer for proper air passage. The reason it is better to have a vent than not is to maintain the condition of the dryer itself. Not installing the dryer vent is dangerous for the machine.
Regardless of there being a vent or not, lint will form due to the natural working of the dryer. It is where this lint goes that affects the working condition of the dryer. With a vent, some of the fluff gathers across the length of the vent as it escapes. Over time, you will have to clean out the passage to ensure the drying of clothes.
Without the vent, the lint forms inside the dryer as it has no path to escape. It is a threat to the safety of the dryer. If left unchecked, the fluff may cause a fire inside the dryer, which will be the end of its functioning. Hence, there is no reason for you to leave out the dryer vent if there is space for one.
Dryer Vent Size
There are different types of dryer vents, with variable sizes, lengths, and material. The choice of material depends on the environment of the dryer and the length of the pipe. You should always opt for a newer hose to fit as a vent for the dryer. Otherwise, you may find incompatible sizes of the fitting place for the pipe and the machine.
The criteria for the length of the dryer duct is that it should be as short as possible, and have very few elbows. A shorter passage is good for the drying process, and it also saves you money on installation. Each bend also contributes to the length of the vent. There is a risk of link accumulation at these elbows as well. As such, there should not be more than three elbows in the passage.
Cost Efficiency
You can expect a dryer vent to cost you somewhere between $200 and $900. It includes the accessories for the vent as well as its installation costs. The items for most vents are the same. The difference in price is due to the length and material of the vent.
Are Dryer Vents Safe?
There are records of combustions in dryer vents, most of which were due to ill planning and improper material. According to safety standards, the best vents to go for are the ones made from metal. As such, you should go with aluminum as the choice of material for the vent. Then, there will be little to no danger of a fire ever erupting inside the vent.
Conclusion
Dryer vents come in handy to keep the machines running in their best condition. They serve their purpose as part of the dryer, and with periodic cleaning, you will have dry clothes coming out of the machine for a long time to come.