Our Company Blog

What’s Wrong with My Dryer?

Is It Time To Clean Your Dryer Vents?

At Chief Chimney Services, Inc., we’re known, of course, for chimneys — for more than 30 years, we’ve been sweeping, inspecting, repairing and installing chimneys of all kinds in Western and Central Suffolk County.

But your chimney isn’t the only system in your home that’s working hard to expel heat and dangerous byproducts. Your dryer vents perform a similarly important function, and Chief Chimney Services specializes in servicing dryer vent systems, too.

The lint trap isn’t the only part of your dryer system that must be cleaned out. Your vents need regular maintenance as well.

Pay A Little Mind Now, Avoid A Lot Of Trouble Later

The systems that work behind the scenes in our homes can be something of an out-of-mind part of life for a lot of us, and that makes sense. If we were constantly focused on the inner workings of our electric system, our plumbing, our dryer vents, that’d probably be a fair indicator that those systems weren’t working very well. Ideally, if everything’s working right, we don’t have to spend a lot of time worrying about those systems. It’s when trouble pops up that they jump to the front of our minds.

The best way to avoid trouble with your venting systems is to give them just enough attention by keeping up with regular preventative maintenance. Having your chimney inspected and swept annually allows it to do its job in the safest and most effective way possible. And having your dryer vents regularly cleaned has the same positive effect.

Why Do I Need To Clean My Dryer Vents?

A chimney flue that’s covered in creosote deposits can be a serious fire hazard, and most of us take that very seriously, since fire hazards are a very front-of-mind concern as we’re building a fire inside our home. What you may not know, though, is that clogged or blocked dryer vents can create a serious fire hazard too.

The National Fire Protection Association compiles figures about home structure fires, and their 2010 findings showed nearly 17,000 home fires involving dryers or washing machines, resulting in more than 50 deaths, nearly 400 injuries and millions of dollars in property damage. And among those dryer-related home fires, the leading cause was noted as “failure to clean.”

Over time and with use, lint will build up inside your dryer vents, and if enough of it builds up, it can constrict or block those vents. Blocked vents allow heat to build up in the vents, too, and since lint is extremely flammable, that situation can quickly lead to ignition. Having your dryer vents professionally cleaned on a regular basis keeps that lint build-up to a minimum, and keeps that hot air moving through the vents and out of your home.

Avoiding a fire hazard isn’t the only reason to clean your vents, though. Blocked vents also force your dryer to work harder than it should to dry your laundry, wasting energy and making you waste money. If you’ve found damp clothes after running a normal load through the dryer, there’s a good chance lint build-up is hampering your dryer’s performance — and a good vent cleaning can clear that up!

Give Chief Chimney Services a call to schedule a dryer vent cleaning today!

Teaching Fire Safety

If your home were to catch fire, do you know how you would escape?  In the event of a fire, every second counts.  As such, everyone in your household must always be prepared.  Every home should have a fire escape plan.  Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly.  In less than 30 seconds, a small fire can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire.  It only takes minutes for a house to fill with thick black smoke and become engulfed in flames.

Do the youngest and oldest members of your family know what to do in case of a fire?

Accidental home fires can catch people totally by surprise.  Without an escape plan in place, you are placing the lives of everybody in your home in jeopardy.  Plan your actions before a fire happens – draw your escape plan before it’s too late.  Prepare and practice your fire escape plan twice a year with everyone in your household.  It’s also a good idea to review your plan with overnight guests.

When preparing your escape plan, you should consider the following:

• Draw a map of each level of your home and show all doors and windows.
• Find two ways to get out of each room.
• Make sure all doors and windows that lead outside open easily.
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
• Teach children not to hide from firefighters.
• Practice your fire escape plan at night and during the daytime.

In the event of a fire, get out fast (you may have only a short period of time to escape safely).  Take the safest exit route; if you have to exit through smoke, remember to stay low (i.e., crawl out of the room).

As a part of your fire escape plan, designate a meeting location a safe distance in front of your home.  For example, meet under a specific tree or at the end of the driveway to make sure everyone has gotten out safely.  Make sure everyone in your home knows how to call 9-1-1 and/or your local emergency number.  Once you’re safely out of a burning building, never go back inside for any reason.  If someone is missing, or pets are trapped inside your home, tell the firefighters immediately.  They are trained and equipped to perform rescues safely.

We want to make sure homeowners are aware of the dangers associated with fires in the home.  What can begin as a small fire can quickly get out of hand, leaving you little to no time to think and react.  Planning ahead will enable you to react more quickly and can help to save your life as well as the lives of everyone else in your home.  Please just take a few minutes for this worthwhile cause.  It truly could be a life-or-death matter.