If you’re a homeowner, then you’re likely to regard your washing machine and clothes dryer as two of your most prized possessions. After all, having a laundry setup right in your own home is bound to make your life easier – especially compared to the notion of having to load up the car, drive to the laundromat, and spend hours waiting for your clothing to get done.
While it’s certainly important that you do your part to maintain all of your household appliances, it’s especially vital that you do what it takes to keep your dryer in good shape. A poorly functioning dryer can turn the act of doing laundry into your own private nightmare, and the longer your dryer takes to get its job done, the higher your utility bills are likely to be at the end of the month. Additionally, an inadequately maintained dryer can all too quickly become a household hazard, as a clogged or dirty dryer vent can unexpectedly cause a fire.
Although proper dryer maintenance does take some effort, in the grand scheme of home ownership, it’s actually a relatively simply affair. Nick Sidon is the owner of Nick’s Dryer Vent Cleaning, a family owned and operated business that has been serving San Diego Country since 2007, and according to him, homeowners ought to do the following in order to keep their dryers in good shape:
Clean your lint trap regularly
One of the best ways to maintain your dryer is to make a habit of cleaning out the lint trap every time you dry a load of laundry. Most lint screens lift right out, making it easy to just reach in, scrape out the lint, and replace the screen accordingly. Remember, if you don’t tend to your lint trap, then the resulting buildup of lint is bound to make the clothes-drying process take much longer than necessary – a fact that can cost you money as well as time. And from a fire safety perspective, by clearing out your lint on a regular basis, you’ll be doing your part to prevent your vent from overheating and causing a fire in the process.
Keep the area behind your dryer clear
If your house is limited in its storage space, then it’s natural that you’d want to hide your excess belongings in hard-to-see places, such as behind the dryer. However, from a dryer maintenance perspective, this is actually a bad idea. The area behind your dryer needs to be clear so that it can vent properly; so if you’re looking to avoid a problem, then store your junk elsewhere.
Make sure your dryer is level
In order for your dryer to work properly, it needs to be placed on even ground. These days, many washers and dryers are sold with elevating pedestals that allow homeowners to load their clothing without bending or straining their backs. If your dryer seems shaky, then make certain that it is properly nested atop a pedestal.
Have your dryer vent cleaned
A dirty or clogged dryer vent can easily cause its fair share of damage, so as part of your dryer maintenance program, make a point of having a professional come in and clean out your dryer vent every one to three years. You might also want to bring in a technician every three years to inspect your pilot light; since this aspect requires a more technical degree of knowledge, most vent cleaning professionals will not be able to offer this service in conjunction with a standard cleaning.
Although dryers these days have gotten more and more affordable, a household dryer is still a rather significant investment nonetheless. Therefore, if you’re looking to preserve your dryer and ensure that it serves you well for as long as you plan to keep it around, then make a point of following these easy tips for proper dryer maintenance.
