Our Company Blog

Now’s the Time for a Dryer Vent Cleaning

Did you know that one of the most dangerous fire hazards in your home is not the kitchen stove, the furnace, or the fireplace? The most dangerous hazard in your home is your clothes dryer! It is one of the most dangerous systems in your house because it is often overlooked.

If you hire a cleaning service, the housekeeper will only clean readily accessible parts of your house. If you hire a repairman for your clothes dryer, he may work on your unit and never give your dryer vent a second thought. The dryer vent is actually where the damage lies! Your clothes dryer vent is how the unit vents out excess heat and lint. Over time, this ductwork can get clogged with lint and eventually obstruct airflow. This is a dangerous hazard to any home with a clothes dryer, and you should schedule a dryer vent cleaning to avoid dangers.

Clothes Dryer Fires

In the U.S., over 50 percent of homes have a clothes dryer. However, only a handful of homeowners will have a professional installation and cleaning for their clothes dryer vents. Each year, there are nearly 3,000 home clothes dryer fires reported, resulting in about 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. However, these fires are preventable.

Thirty-four percent of these fires are because of the failure to clean the dryer unit, which means 1/3, or about 1,000, of these annual fires, are completely preventable. At Chief Chimney Services, we agree that even one accidental fire is one too many. Since clothes dryer fires peak in January, we’re determined to reach as many customers as possible this summer. We want to clean out dryer vents throughout our service area to keep homeowners and their families safe.

Signs You Need a Dryer Vent Cleaning

When your dryer isn’t working as well as it once did, it’s time to schedule a dryer vent cleaning. Many homeowners repeat a cycle until the clothes are dry and think nothing of it, chalking it up to an old unit. This is a dangerous assumption! According to professionals, if your clothes dryer takes more than a normal cycle to dry a load and it’s less than 5 years old, it likely has a clog. If you have had your clothes dryer for more than a year, if you’re not sure how old it is or how long you’ve used it, or if it takes more than one cycle to work, it’s time to schedule a cleaning. Some other reasons to schedule a cleaning include:

• Lint and condensation cover surfaces in your laundry room or home
• The termination hood is clogged with lint or doesn’t work properly
• The lint trap is periodically empty of lint
• The dryer unit or the clothes themselves are excessively hot to the touch
• Running the dryer creates heat in your home

Running a dryer with clogged vents is costing you money. It costs more to cool your home, costs more to run multiple cycles, and it shortens the life of your unit. Don’t put your family at risk or waste your money any longer! Call Chief Chimney Services today or schedule online.

Now’s the Time for a Chimney Sweep

During burn season, we periodically get calls for inspections and sweeps due to problems with their chimney systems. However, in general, homeowners should get these services done during the off-season. There are a few reasons it is best to schedule inspections and sweeps in spring and summer.

First, by scheduling in the spring, you are able to clean away all the debris, soot, and creosote from the previous winter. Second, you are able to get these services without interrupting the use of your fireplace. Third, by scheduling during the off-season, you’re able to miss the “fall rush”.  This is the time between October and January when the chimney sweep companies are booked full with installations and repairs.

Benefits of a Chimney Sweep

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) both agree that chimneys need annual inspection and regular cleanings to remain safe and efficient. A clean chimney will not stink as summer humidity and air pressure pushes through the chimney. Clean chimneys are better prepared and ready for fires in the fall.

When creosote and soot are regularly removed from the system, there will be less buildup, less malfunction, and cleanings are also easier and cheaper. Since your clean chimney will work more efficiently, your sweep will prevent damage in the future. In short, chimney sweeps prevent fires, prevent damage, and save you money. There’s no reason not to schedule yours today!

Beat the Fall Rush

During the fall and first part of winter, chimney sweep companies are busy with emergency calls, installations, and repairs. It is often difficult for homeowners to get on the schedule for routine maintenance. If you wait until the fall to schedule your sweep or inspection, you may not be able to get the appointment time you’d like or the technician you trust. You may even have to postpone using your fireplace until you get the repairs and maintenance the fireplace needs.

Additionally, if you wait until fall to schedule your chimney sweep or inspection and a hazard is identified, you may not have the time or money to repair it before you need your fireplace. Ensure your chimney is safe and clean before you need it! Schedule your services now!

Chief Chimney Services Clean Suffolk Co Chimneys

Residents and homeowners of Suffolk County, you are in luck. At Chief Chimney Services, we clean wood-burning, oil, and gas fireplaces and appliances. During a sweeping, you can count on our utmost professionalism and care. Our technician will come into the home and use drop clothes and a vacuum system to contain the mess. We will clean the system from top to bottom while paying attention to the overall safety and checking for obstructions and hazards.

After your appointment, you will get a report if your technician found anything amiss, and a repair plan or schedule an inspection if necessary. If there are no problems with your system, then it is ready for use this fall! If you’re ready to schedule your summer chimney sweep so that you’re ready for fall, schedule with Chief online today!