For any appliance to work correctly, consumers must use them correctly. Frigidaire appliance repairtechnicians suggest that a clothes dryer is an appliance that is often used incorrectly, particularly when it concerns venting. Many of the methods used to vent a dryer are wrong – and are potentially dangerous. For the safest use, consumers should be sure to perform regular dryer vent cleaning; however, they first must properly vent the dryer to avoid health and safety issues.
Ventilation Techniques – Proper and Improper
There are many ways that dryer vents are installed; however, not every way or every material is correct. According to Frigidaire appliance repair experts, there is actually only one correct way to do this – with smooth, four-inch aluminum piping that runs from the back of the appliance to the outside of the home. Once this is done, a consumer should follow up with regular dryer vent cleaning. This helps prevent household fires and keeps airborne dust and fiber particles from being released into the air.
Since aluminum ventilation tubing is the only safe way for a dryer to be vented, any other way is both incorrect and unsafe. Following are some of the other methods Frigidaire appliance repair technicians encounter when called to a home for a repair or a professional dryer vent cleaning:
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Flexible Plastic Dryer Hose – Contrary to what many people believe, flexible plastic “dryer hose” is not acceptable as safe ventilation for a number of important reasons. A corrugated, flexible hose collects lint and dust in its creases, which makes complete dryer vent cleaning nearly impossible. It also has no strength, so as lint builds up, the hose becomes heavier; as it sags, it collects more lint. When a hose is blocked with lint, clothes do not dry as well, putting more stress on the dryer. This increases the chance the motor will burn out, as well as increasing the possibility of a house fire.
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Venting Into a Bucket of Water – Since drying clothes requires the removal of moisture from the air, venting into a bucket of water may prevent lint and dust from becoming airborne yet re-introduces moisture into the air. The end result is a dryer that must work harder, increased power bills, and the ever-present danger of a fire.
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Venting Into a Room, Basement, or Attic – Although this may seem like a good idea to let all that warm, moist air help heat a room or small home, nothing could be further from the truth. Not only does the release of microscopic lint fiber and dust create a health hazard, the moisture does as well. Venting dryers into a home may cause mold growth. Basements and attics are already problem areas when it comes to moisture, so adding more will only make the problem worse.
Technicians who repair Frigidaire appliances advise that for a dryer to work best, routine dryer vent cleaning must be performed. Since airflow is the only way a dryer can push out lint, once a hose is initially compromised, buildup continues until it is completely blocked.
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Cleaning frequency should be determined by how much the dryer is used. For a family of four, cleaning a dryer vent should be done about every six months. If a dryer is only used once or twice a week, it may be a few years before the vent really needs a thorough cleaning. Frigidaire appliance repair experts suggest it is better to be safe than sorry – clean the dryer vent sooner rather than later and keep the air moving!
