Duct System

 

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are more than 2,900 home fires started by clothes dryers. The buildup of lint is the main cause of these fires.

Each load of laundry that passes through your dryer contains lint, small particles of clot and fiber that are loosened in the wash cycle.  Your removable lint trap catches a lot of the lint, but it doesn’t catch it all.

Hidden Lint

Lint can get past the filter, it then gets trapped in the crevices deep inside your lint filter trap and in the dryer hose/duct while it makes its way to the outside vent.  As the lint builds up it restricts the airflow and can cause the dryer to overheat, which then can ignite the lint.

Warning Signs

There are a few things to look for when determining if your dryer needs a good cleaning.

  • Clothes take more than one cycle to dry.
  • Clothes don’t dry completely.
  • The dryer exterior gets very hot to the touch.
  • The outside vent flaps do not open much when dryer is in use.
  • The laundry room is more humid than usual.
  • There is a burning smell in the laundry room.

Cleaning the Dryer

Simply vacuuming the dryer will not provide a thorough cleaning. Vacuum cleaners do not have the power required to remove the lint completely from the dryer’s filter housing and it will not remove the lint from the walls of the duct.

Homeowners should clean the lint trap after every dryer use and giving the lint trap a good scrub with soap and water is a good idea.

However, to really get the dryer cleaned out and operating safely it is a good idea to call in a professional.

A professional cleaning uses a power vac specially made to get the dryer and duct flushed of lint and will also inspect the hoses, ducts and gas line to ensure everything is attached properly and operational.

Regular cleaning will protect you and your family as well as your home.

Author

  • brian sloan headshot

    Brian Sloan is the President of TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, one of the western Chicago suburbs' leading family owned home service companies, serving homeowners across more than 80 communities throughout Will, Kendall, DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties.

    TR Miller is more than a business to Brian, it's a family legacy. The company was founded by his father, Tim Miller, and Brian and his brother Jim have played an important role in growing the business from a small local operation into a full service residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company serving homeowners throughout the greater Chicagoland area.

    Brian's perspective on the home services industry comes from firsthand experience. Before taking on leadership responsibilities, he worked in the field as an HVAC Service Technician and Fabrication Technician, diagnosing heating and cooling systems, assembling custom HVAC components, and supporting residential installations throughout the western suburbs.

    That hands on foundation continues to influence the way Brian leads TR Miller today. He understands both the work taking place inside a customer's home and the systems, training, and support required behind the scenes to consistently deliver a great customer experience.

    Over the course of his career at TR Miller, Brian has worked across nearly every major area of the business, including operations, marketing, sales, job coordination, customer service, finance, and leadership. Today, as President, he is responsible for the overall strategy, growth, culture, and performance of the organization.

    That breadth of experience across both the technical and business sides of home services has helped shape how TR Miller operates: combining the systems and accountability of a professionally run organization with the care, responsiveness, and personal connection of a family business.
    Brian's philosophy is straightforward, make home services convenient and reliable while giving homeowners the information they need to make the best decisions for their homes and families. That means educating customers, providing clear options and upfront pricing, and making sure homeowners understand both what was found and why a repair or replacement may be recommended.

    Under Brian's leadership, TR Miller has expanded beyond HVAC into plumbing and electrical services, grown across multiple locations, invested heavily in technical and leadership development, and been recognized seven times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing privately held companies.

    Credentials & Affiliations:
    - President, TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
    - Membership Officer, YPO Chicagoland
    - Board Member, Nexstar Network
    - Former Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
    - Associate's Degree, Waubonsee Community College
    - Former HVAC Service Technician & Fabrication Technician, TR Miller
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