Buying A Home? Check The Dryer First!
Buying a home can be very stressful! Even when you hire a home inspector to do a full inspection of every square inch of the house, you may still be in for surprises. When inspecting a home that you wish to buy, we highly recommend adding one more thing to the list: the dryer vent.
While it may not take very long to do, it is something you should not overlook. There are a few things you should check in regards to the dryer vent before buying the home. Have a read below to see what you need to inspect!
What Material Is The Vent?
One of the first things you should check is the material used for the dryer vent. This is extremely easy to do and only takes a few seconds.
If you see rigid, mental ductwork, you should celebrate and be happy as you have the best material installed.
If you have a white vinyl material, you should plan to replace it immediately. The vinyl material is prone to melting, which can easily lead to a house fire. The same goes with the extremely flexible foil-like dryer vent hoses. These are prone to collapsing, leading to restricted airflow.
How Is The Airflow?
Another extremely simple thing to check is the velocity or airflow fro the dryer vent. Start by turning on the air dry setting, then venture outside to the dryer vent outlet. Using an anemometer, you should measure the velocity of the air coming out of the vent. You want at least 1500 feet/minute of airflow coming out of the vent. Anything less may indicate a dirty or clogged dryer vent, leading to reduced efficiency and a bigger threat to a house fire. To learn more about anemometers, check out our previous blog post here.
Duct Tape & Screws?
Take a quick glance to see if you notice the use of duct tape or screws. Duct tape is.great for every day use, however, it needs to be avoided when talking about clothes dryers. Since the dryer vent is exhausting heated air, the adhesive on the duct tape will quickly melt away. Over time, the tape will fall off, resulting in air leaking out of the vent, or the vent disconnecting all together.
When contractors and installers use screws to attach the dryer vent, they are increasing the chances of a clog. The screws stick into the vent, giving the lint an easy place to get trapped and stuck on. Over time, the build up of lint will continue to grow, reducing air flow and increasing the risk of a house fire.
Final Thoughts
Buying a home for you and your family can be stressful – we get it. When making your list of things to inspect, make sure the dryer vent makes the cut. It’s an extremely quick thing to check, however, one of the most important aspects.
As a reminder, your dryer vent needs to be cleaned at least once a year to keep your home safe. An alarming high amount of house fires are started by a clogged dryer vent, so do yourself a favor and have it checked! If you are buying a home in Delaware or Souther Pennsylvania, allow us to help! Reach out using our Contact Us form on this page and we can get you cleaned out with ease!