When was the last time that you looked in your dryer vent? A lot of people don’t think to ever take a peek and unknowingly let the lint quietly build up until it becomes a safety hazard. One of our technicians was talking today about how he sees this problem a lot and wanted me to share with you the best ways of cleaning it out. I fully agree with him that this is such an important home safety issue that it needs to be talked about. You need to be checking your vent every few months to prevent fires from starting.
So here’s what you have to do:
- Detach the dryer vent from the dryer
- Use an electric leaf blower or a shop vac set in reverse to blow through the tubing. All of the gunk that is in there will come out of your house on the other side. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do NOT use a gas leaf blower inside your home because the fumes are toxic and can cause some serious health risks, even death
- Check the vent outside of your house and clear out all of the remaining debris
Another thing to take a look at is how close the vent is to your heat pump or air conditioner. Often they are installed close together and lint from the dryer vent gets in the coils of your outdoor unit. You will want to examine the unit to see if there is any buildup. If you find any lint, have a reputable HVAC company do a professional tune up and cleaning on the system to ensure that there is no damage to the unit. They will also be able to talk with you about ways to prevent the lint from collecting on the coils (in fact, my technician said he recommends a solution involving pantyhose). If you want more information or to schedule a cleaning for your unit call me, Angie, at 253-630-9224.
If I haven’t convinced you yet to take a look at your dryer vent, check out this news story about a family in Kent who suffered a tragic fire because of a clogged dryer vent. Please don’t let this happen to you! http://www.kirotv.com/video/9914544/
Glen J., AAA Heating & Air Conditioning Senior Technician
Q. We often feel cold air coming out of our vents, even when our furnace is on. What is causing this and how can we fix it? –Gina M., Burien
A. It is possible that the duct work has disconnected somewhere in your crawl space. You will want to check it to make sure that all connections are secure and that there are no holes in it. Sometimes rodents or other animals will tear up the duct work and create holes, which allow the cold air from your crawl space to get into your house. Essentially, you end up heating your crawl space instead of your home. If you feel comfortable going under your house, take a flashlight and inspect each length of ducting. Look for any holes or disconnected and sagging duct work. If you want an opinion from a professional heating & cooling company, we are always happy to come out and take a look at it for you. Just call us at 253-630-9224 to get that scheduled.
If you have a question for Glen, our knowledgeable Senior Technician, submit it using our communication form and you might just be featured on our blog!
Because AAA Heating & Air Conditioning cares about helping our customers save money and improve the environment, we wanted to help you make sense of the ENERGY STAR® program and what it means for your heating or cooling system. This is Part 3 of a 9 part series on the subject that is published every other Thursday. If you missed our previous posts, you can find them here: AAA Heating & Air Conditioning ENERGY STAR blog posts
Ductwork is what distributes the heated or cooled air from your furnace throughout the rest of the house. In a typical house, 20% of that air is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. Inefficient heating or cooling systems, high utility bills, and difficulty keeping the house comfortable are the result.
If you feel comfortable enough, you can seal leaks by yourself with a mastic sealant or a foil tape. You will also want to ensure that the connections at the vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet the floors, walls, and ceiling.
However, many homeowners choose to hire a professional Heating and Cooling Contractor to perform an inspection on the duct work and to make any repairs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends looking for a contractor who will:
- Inspect the whole duct system, including the attic, basement, and crawlspace
- Evaluate the system’s supply and return air balance. Many systems have air return ducts that are too small
- Repair or replace damaged, disconnected, or undersized ducts and straighten out flexible ducts that are tangled or crushed
- Seal leaks and connections
- Seal gaps behind registers and grills where the duct meets the floor, wall, or ceiling
- Insulate ducts in unconditioned areas
- Use diagnostic tools to evaluate air flow after repairs are completed
AAA Heating & Air Conditioning has trained specialists who can perform these checks and repairs for you. Give us a call at 253-630-9224 to schedule an appointment.
Next time in our series on ENERGY STAR: Using Programmable Thermostats
Source: www.energystar.gov
