Get matched with top dryer vent cleaners in El Duende, NM

Failing to open your flue can lead to serious health hazards if you start a fire because the smoke will back up into your home. Breathing fire smoke, even in relatively small quantities, is bad for human lungs, and smoke can also irritate your nasal passages and eyes. Furthermore, smoke can cause damage to your interior fixtures and furnishings, at the very least leaving an unpleasant smoky smell for a long time. In short: If your flue isn’t open (or you’re not sure if it is or not), don’t start a fire to find out!

Using less toilet paper is the easiest way to prevent future clogs. Also, avoid flushing sanitary products, thick paper towels, or hair down the toilet. If you’ve been using a brick in the tank to reduce the water used to flush the toilet, take it out immediately. Bricks will eventually fall apart and clog your toilet drain. Keeping your toilet lid closed also helps avoid future clogs.

There are several common warning signs that indicate your dryer vent may be clogged. If your clothes are taking longer than usual to dry, the vent could be the culprit. Other signs include the exterior of the dryer becoming very hot during operation, or the dryer shutting itself off due to overheating. You might also notice an excess of lint left inside the dryer or in the lint trap after a cycle, see lint building up around the exterior vent opening, or detect unusual or burning odors. A clogged dryer vent is a serious fire hazard, so if you notice any of these signs, you should stop using the dryer and have the vent cleaned immediately.

The average cost of a dryer vent ranges from $100 to $300 for the various models, but that price doesn’t include installation. If you're hiring a pro, the labor cost to install a dryer vent will be an additional $20 to $35 per hour. The job takes roughly two to four hours, so that’s an extra $40 to $140 altogether.