Our Company Blog

What Is Dryer Vent Rerouting?

One of the things that you love the most about your new home is having your laundry room next to your master bathroom because it is so convenient when it is time to do laundry chores. However, this convenience could be a dangerous fire hazard. When clothes dryers are located in a room with only interior walls, the dryer vents may not be correctly installed, and this could not only create a fire hazard, but it also could lead to clothes dryers not working as efficiently as possible. Atlas Chimney wants your family to be as safe as possible in your home, and we also want your home to be at its highest levels of energy efficiency. For over 25 years, we have provided superior professional chimney and venting system maintenance, repair, and installation services to the Austin area, and you can trust our experienced professionals because we have been trained and certified by the leaders in the industry, such as the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). We would like to tell you more about dryer vent rerouting and why it is so important.

Why do I need my dryer vent rerouted?

In order for your clothes dryer to work as efficiently as it can, the vent needs to be as straight as possible, and when your dryer is located upstairs in the middle of your home, the vent is likely twisted and curved before it reaches the outside of your home. This can restrict airflow which can cause your dryer to work harder than it should, which can waste energy and money. You also have an increased risk of your vent being clogged with lint, which is so flammable that the Boy Scouts of America recommend using it to start campfires. Another dryer vent issue that Atlas Chimney has seen over the years is the vent terminating in a crawl space or an attic, rather than outside of the home. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), dryer vents must end on the outside of the building and be positioned at least three feet away from a window or a door. When your dryer vent ends in your attic or crawl space, it can deposit moisture, and this increases the risk of wood decay and mold growth.

What can I expect from a dryer vent service from Atlas Chimney?

The safety of our customers is the number one priority at Atlas Chimney. Our technicians have received professional certifications from the CSIA, which means we have been educated and trained on how to properly maintain, repair, and install dryer vents so that your clothes dryer will function as safely and efficiently as possible. If your dryer is located on an interior wall in your home, we can reroute the vent to help your appliance work at its highest levels of efficiency and safety. We will also ensure that your dryer vent meets all local building codes and standards. You can count on us to take the extra precautions to guarantee a mess-free dryer vent rerouting service because we will show your home the utmost respect and care.

Atlas Chimney also provides high-quality professional dryer vent and air duct cleaning services to the Austin area. Reduce your risk of a devastating house fire and prolong the life of your clothes dryer by contacting us today to schedule an appointment with our CSIA-certified dryer vent technicians.

Is It Time for a Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning?

When you own a home, you are responsible for ensuring that there are no safety hazards present, and in order to do that, you must follow a regular maintenance routine. Part of that routine includes scheduling certified professionals to take care of some of the tasks. Atlas Chimney is proud to be able to help homeowners in the Austin area prevent accidental fires and other dangers with our professional services. Not only do we provide annual chimney sweepings and inspections, but we also clean dryer vent systems. You may not realize that your dryer vent should be professionally cleaned every year, but statistics have proven that clogged dryer vents are responsible for the majority of the thousands of clothes dryer fires that happen each year in the United States. We would like to tell you more about why it is so important to schedule an appointment for an annual professional dryer vent cleaning.

Prevent Accidential Fires

In 2012, the US Fire Administration (USFA) released a report that stated approximately 2,900 residential fires are caused by clothes dryers each year, and these fires result in five deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property losses. Most of these fires are caused by dirty dryer vents, which is why it is so crucial to have your vent professionally cleaned every year. Your dryer produces a lot of lint with each load of clothes, and some of that lint ends up trapped inside the vent. Over time, the accumulation of lint can get large enough to clog the vent, which makes your dryer overheat. Since lint is so flammable, the high temperatures can easily ignite it and lead to an accidental fire. Atlas Chimney makes sure to remove every bit of lint to ensure your dryer vent is not a fire hazard.

Prolong the Life of Your Dryer

Overheating is rough on this appliance and its components and can cause them to wear out and break down prematurely. Clothes dryer repairs can be very expensive. The heating element is one of the parts that can have problems, and sometimes it may be more economical to replace the entire appliance than to repair that particular part. After a professional dryer vent cleaning from Atlas Chimney, your dryer will work more efficiently and keep it running for years without breaking down.

Decreases Your Monthly Utility Bills

One of the signs that your dryer vent is clogged is when your clothes are still damp after a complete drying cycle. Having to run your dryer twice as long to dry one load of clothes can make your utility bills go up every month. Not only will your clothes dry more quickly, but you should also notice a decrease in these bills after Atlas Chimney has cleaned the dryer vent.

Avoid an accidental dryer fire from occurring in your home. Contact us at Atlas Chimney today to schedule an appointment for our professional dryer vent cleaning.