Every year, there are thousands of fires that cause millions of dollars of damage from dryers not being cleaned and maintained properly. Residential dryer fires are one of the leading causes of home fires. Statistically, there is a greater chance of major damage from commercial dryers when they are not cleaned and maintained. The chance of a fire increases due to the extent that they are used as well as the proximity of the dryers to each other. To prevent fire and other damage, how often does a commercial dryer vent need to be cleaned.?

Daily cleaning

Commercial dryers, like residential dryers need to be maintained daily. This includes cleaning the lint from the trap to prevent any buildup of material that can cause a fire when subjected to heat from the drying process. Dryers should be wiped on the outside and the inside doors should also be wiped daily. This will prevent lint build up and thus damage to the dryer, but it isn’t the only maintenance that needs to happen to keep your dryers and your building safe; regular commercial dryer vent cleaning needs to happen, too.

How often should you clean commercial dryer vents?

As well as the daily cleaning of the dryer, commercial dryer vents specifically need to be cleaned. Research varies on how often a commercial dryer vent needs to be cleaned, ranging from between two and five years. There are reasons for considering cleaning them more often. When the commercial dryer vents are maintained and cleaned on a regular basis, there is less build up of particles in the vent, and this decreases the fire risk. Also, when commercial dryer vents are cleaned, the dryer can work more efficiently and use less energy, saving you money as a result. Cleaning the dryer vents on a regular basis can also increase the life span of the dryer by allowing it to work more effectively, therefore delaying the replacement of machines. It is the more cost-efficient rout overall. And of course, if your dryers are used more frequently, your cleaning frequency should increase as well. While there may be various time frames for a cleaning schedule, there are some signs that indicate when it is time for a commercial dryer vent cleaning.

Signs that it is time to clean your commercial dryer vents.

No matter where the commercial dryer is from, a laundry mat to a hotel, to a hospital or restaurant, there are things to look for to know when it is time for commercial dryer vent cleaning. These signs are similar to those from a residential dryer, but on a grander scale. When clothes or sheets are no longer dry when they come out from the dryer, or if it takes longer then normal to dry the items, then it may be time to clean your commercial dryer.

Monitoring the heat from a commercial dryer is another way to determine if it is time for a commercial dryer vent cleaning. When there is a build up of lint and particles in the vent and traps, it can cause the dryer to work harder and less efficiently. The dryer can radiate excess heat, increasing the risk of fires or dryer breakdowns.

Clothes, sheets, and linen are cleaned to remove dirt, and also to help with any smells. If your clothes and other items still have a musty smell after they come out of the dryer, it may be time to clean your commercial dryer. This smell can be caused by a build up of lint and particles in the dryer or the dryer vent over a period of time. By completing a daily cleaning, this can help eliminate the buildup and prevent the odor; however, only a complete commercial dryer vent cleaning will get rid of the particle build up and have that laundry smelling clean and fresh again.

When there is a smell of something burning around the commercial dryer, this is a high-risk warning sign that it is time for a commercial dryer vent cleaning. This smell happens when there is a build up of particles in the dryer vent, or when there is lint in the traps, and the heat from the dryers is beginning to slowly smolder the trapped particles. If you smell this, you should immediately turn off or cut the power to the dryer and call a commercial vent cleaner.

There are many ways to tell when it is time to clean your commercial dryer vents. Ensure that the daily and regular cleaning and maintenance is completed and know the signs that indicate when it is time to clean the commercial dryer vents.