Dryer Vent Cleaning Minnetonka

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that every year more than 2,900 home fires are started by clothes dryers. The leading cause of these dryer fires? Lint buildup.

Each load of laundry that passes through a washing machine and makes its way to the clothes dryer contains lint: mostly small particles of cloth and fiber that are loosened from clothes by agitating water.

Many people believe the removable lint filter in the dryer catches all this, but not so. Some lint passes beyond the filter and is trapped deep inside the lint filter trap and along the dryer vent hose or duct as it makes its way to the outside vent opening.

The good news is, with simple maintenance, the excess lint can be removed and the risk of a dryer fire greatly eliminated. For multi-family properties this is an essential maintenance task. Whether residents have individual washer and dryer units or you have a shared laundry room, dryer vent cleaning is something you’ll want to be sure gets done at least once a year.

For facilities needing dryer vent cleaning in Minnetonka, Building Maintenance Management is the company to call. As part of our regular maintenance program or on a contract basis, we can handle dryer vent cleaning for your buildings.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Tips

In addition to fire prevention, dryer vent cleaning will also help dryers run more efficiently. It will allow clothes to dry faster, thus saving the amount of run-time needed for the dryer. This not only saves energy, but money as well!

With multi-family facilities, some outside dryer vents can be tricky to access. Some vent on the side of the building, while others may vent on the roof. With multiple units, there may be extensive ductwork that all needs to be cleaned. The crew with BMM has the tools and experience necessary to clean the dryer vents at your facility.

The amount of use each dryer gets will determine how often to clean the vents, but a general rule is once a year. Here are some other ways to reduce lint buildup or issues with dryer vents:

• Replace plastic, vinyl and aluminum foil venting with rigid or flexible metal venting.
• Encourage residents to clean the lint filter before or after each load.
• Make sure dryers are properly installed.
• Check that the outside vent is clear of debris. It should have a cover to prevent birds and insects from nesting inside the vent.
• Try to keep dryer ductwork as short as possible by placing dryer hookups near an external wall.

By following the above tips and having our team annually inspect and clean the dryer vents, you should be able to avoid a dryer fire caused by lint buildup.

Dryer Vent Cleaning by BMM

For dryer vent cleaning in Minnetonka and surrounding areas for commercial and multi-family facilities, give Building Maintenance Management a call. We can be reached at 763-541-4886 or contact us online.