Dryer vent and carbon monoxide (CO) safety are important for all DuPage and Cook County homes. Frequently overlooked, dryer vents, exhaust vents, and CO alarms play vital roles in ensuring the health of building residents. With regular inspections, cleaning, and maintenance, these features can protect your Elmhurst, IL home and everyone in it. At Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning Corp, we take your home’s safety seriously, so we’re sharing a comprehensive checklist for dryer vent and carbon monoxide safety.
Check for Signs Your Dryer Vent May Be Blocked
Cleaning your dryer’s lint trap following every load is important. Doing so reduces the risk of dryer fires, increases dryer efficiency, and shortens drying times. But this isn’t the end of your dryer maintenance. You should also schedule dryer vent cleaning every six to 12 months.
During drying cycles, lint, textile fibers, hair, and moisture make their way into the exhaust duct. As it builds up over time, this debris can inhibit exhaust flow, reduce dryer efficiency, and increase the risk of fires. If you own a gas dryer, vent blockages can also prevent the outflow of dangerous exhaust gases, including carbon monoxide.
Stay alert for signs that you need dryer vent cleaning, including:
- Lint buildup around the vent cover
- Limited airflow from the exterior vent
- Frequent problems with overheating
- Longer and less effective drying times
- Increased humidity when using your dryer
While the recommended dryer vent cleaning schedule for most homes is every 12 months, you might need vent cleaning every six months if you have a large family and use your dryer often. For dryers with longer and more complex vent runs, some professionals recommend scheduling vent cleaning every three to six months instead.
Make Sure Outdoor Vent Openings Are Clear
For insects and animals that naturally thrive in the local environment, outdoor dryer vents offer shelter and warmth. They also serve as effective hiding places from potential predators. Even if your dryer vent and vent run are free of lint and other dryer-related debris, they can still have blockages. Check the vent at the exterior of your home for nesting materials, droppings, food, and other detritus that pests commonly leave. In DuPage and Cook counties, common dryer vent pests include:
- Bats
- Rats and mice
- Starlings and other birds
- Squirrels
- Bees, wasps, and hornets
Test Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Replace Batteries
All Cook and DuPage County homes with fuel-burning appliances must have functional carbon monoxide detectors at all times. Carbon monoxide is a deadly, odorless, and colorless gas. These alarms alert residents of CO leaks to prevent illness and potentially fatal exposure.
To test a CO detector, press and hold its “Test/Silence” button. It should respond with a flashing red light and four shrill beeps. It should pause for five seconds before making four beeps again. If it does not, it may need new batteries or be ready for replacement. The average lifespan of CO detectors is 7 to 10 years.
Test every carbon monoxide detector in your home. Even if your CO alarms are hardwired into your electrical system, they still have backup batteries for power outages and other emergencies. Replace these as needed. The recommended schedule for standard and backup CO battery replacement is every 6 to 12 months.
Schedule Heating System Checks Before Heavy Use
If you use a gas-fired furnace to heat your home, have it serviced before the start of the heating season. All furnaces require annual heating maintenance for assured safety, efficiency, and performance. Professional heating maintenance can limit your risk of carbon monoxide leaks in the following ways:
- Ensuring proper venting
- Keeping sensitive components clean
- Identifying heat exchanger cracks
- Ensuring efficient fuel combustion
- Optimizing airflow
Know When to Call for Professional Help
Take all CO alarm alerts seriously. Even if you believe your detectors are emitting false alerts, you should have your fuel-burning equipment inspected to identify the cause of false alarms.
Even when your CO alarms don’t send alerts, there can still be signs that your furnace is having combustion problems, such as:
- Yellow pilot light or burner flames
- Visible rust on the vent pipe
- Brown or soot-colored stains around the furnace
- Rising indoor humidity
- Insufficient or unreliable heating
Dirty dryer vents can increase indoor humidity as well. If it takes much longer for your clothes to dry, or if your dryer repeatedly overheats and shuts off, contact Airtech to schedule a vent cleaning service.
Schedule HVAC Services With Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning Corp Today
Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning Corp proudly serves Cook County and DuPage County. We’re a family-owned company with a strong community focus. We offer expert dryer vent cleaning, heating maintenance, and indoor air quality (IAQ) services. We also offer an HVAC preventative maintenance plan. For help protecting your household from CO exposure, get in touch with Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning Corp today!
