Did You Know Dusty Vents Are a Fire Hazard?

Did you know accumulated soot and dust can be a fire hazard?

All dust is full of dry and flammable material, which can easily ignite under the right conditions. Any sufficiently large collection of dust can be ignited either by contact with a spark or if the surface it's settled on becomes very hot. 

Yet many people don’t realize how dangerous their dusty vents are, especially dryer ones. Nearly 3,194 fires occur in homes nationwide annually due to dirty dryer vents. 

Homeowners should know that poorly maintained and dust-laden HVAC systems pose a fire hazard!

When Dust Becomes a Fire Hazard

The air in your home is heated via the burners, heating the exchanger of the furnace. The burners heat the exchanger to a very high degree. 

Near or above the furnace, in the plenum, dust will accumulate over time and occasionally fall onto the heat exchanger. If the debris pile becomes large enough, there can be a very serious risk of a fire igniting inside the furnace.

The danger of a dust-borne fire is especially high in the summer when ducts can grow hot, but it’s a problem year-round. If a heating unit is in poor condition and must endure heavy use during winter, it can throw sparks. 

Dusty Furnace Filters

Heater furnace filters are specially designed to protect both the furnace and air conditioner from collecting dust. If the filter is not regularly changed, dust can and will accumulate until the filter eventually collapses. 

The filter may then get sucked into the furnace, allowing the dust it carried to catch fire.

What Causes a Dryer Vent Fire?

Dryer lint is a highly combustible material created as a natural byproduct as hot air runs over your clothing while tumbling in the dryer. Over time, your dryer vent will fill with lint as it passes through the filter. Once it builds up, it will restrict the airflow and increase the temperature inside the dryer, making it highly flammable and potentially catching fire. 

Dryer blockages are serious and, if a fire breaks out, can cause:

●    Injuries

●    Property damage

●    Fatalities

A thorough inspection of your dryer vent may reveal that it needs cleaning to keep the area safe and get you on track for standard maintenance. 

How to Reduce the Risk of Dryer Fires

The first step to protecting your home from a dryer lint fire is cleaning your lint filter, which should be done after each dryer cycle. However, cleaning your lint filter alone is not enough to protect your home against fire. 

As time passes, tiny lint particles can escape, accumulating in your vent system. It's worth noting that the longer the dryer vent path, the higher the likelihood of lint buildup. While metal vents are safer than their aluminum and foil counterparts, all types require thorough cleaning. 

Adding these extra measures can also reduce your risk: 

Monthly Personal Cleaning

You can clear out the dryer vent yourself once a month. You will reduce the amount of buildup that occurs in the vent area.

Turn Off the Dryer When Leaving

Leaving the clothes dryer running when you leave the house is never a good idea. Turn it off and resume when you return. 

Clean the Lint Filter

You should clean the lint filter placed in the front or on top of the dryer with every new load of laundry. Allowing it to build up will lead to higher temperatures and more strain on the dryer.

Annual Professional Cleaning

Our team of vent-cleaning professionals at Dust Doctors cleans hundreds of dryer vents yearly and an annual inspection can also help your dryer run more efficiently. Whether your home uses a hard pipe or a flexible one, we completely clean the line of any built-up lint, helping your dryer to work much faster, and your home will be less likely to experience a dryer-originated fire.

Solution: Cleaning Your Air Ducts

The good news is it’s easy to avoid fires in your home by having your vents professionally inspected and cleaned by a Dust Doctors technician. We can clear all the dust, dirt, and debris from your home to help you prevent fires.

This is the best and only reliable way to reduce the fire risk from dust, which is to remove or reduce the dust. 

Cleaning your air ducts is the simplest, most logical way to remove accumulated dust built up over time, thereby preventing any potential fire hazard from materializing. 

Can You DIY Air Duct Cleaning?

Hiring a professional A/C duct cleaning service is the best solution to dust-borne fire hazards. Improperly cleaned air ducts may cause loose dust to circulate, damaging indoor air quality and creating an even more serious risk.

Call the Professionals at Dust Doctors in the Twin Cities 

The pros at Dust Doctors are fully trained and equipped to provide any kind of cleaning service your air ducts may need.

• A/C Cleaning
• Furnace Cleaning
• Chimney Cleaning
• Air Duct Cleaning
• Dryer Vent Cleaning
• Water Heater Cleaning

All Dust Doctors services are supported by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. We have decades of experience cleaning and repairing ducting of all kinds and have perfected our craft using specialized methods and equipment. 

Professional Vent & Duct Cleaning Near Little Canada, Minnesota

If you live in Little Canada or the surrounding Twin Cities metro area and need a professional vent, HVAC, or duct cleaning, contact Dust Doctors. We provide a wide range of services that improve air quality in your home. 

We have built a solid reputation in Minneapolis and St. Paul as HVAC cleaning technicians who provide quality work, fast service, and affordable rates. When you hire Dust Doctors, you’re hiring the best in the business to improve the air quality in your home. 

To schedule a cleaning today, call us at 651-319-9777, or you can message us on our contact page.