Dryer Vents Cleaned
Dryers are typically one of the biggest drains on energy within the home, and are known to consume more energy than the dishwasher, washing machine and even the refrigerator. While upgrading to a newer, energy certified model can help you reduce your electricity bills and waste less energy, there are a few other things you can do to make your dryer work more efficiently for you:
Try to keep it clean
Most of us know that we should clean the lint filter after every cycle, and neglecting to do this can not only mean that the dryer isn’t working efficiently, but could also pose a serious fire risk.
If you have a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment, you can use it to try and remove as much stray lint as possible from the lint trap cavity. Once you’ve done that, pull the dryer away from the wall and get rid of any dust and lint from the back of the machine, especially if it has built up near any vents.
With a dryer that has clean vents, you’ll usually find that one cycle is enough to dry a load of clothes, but clogged vents will mean that the cycle may have to be repeated to get the clothes fully dry, and this will show in your monthly electricity bill.
Failing to keep your dryer vents clean will also mean that all that extra drying time, puts stress on the dryer’s heating element. Should this burn out, you’ll need to have it repaired, and you may even need to replace your dryer far sooner than you would if you had kept the vents nice and clean.
Use advanced settings
Many modern dryers have a moisture sensor setting that will automatically shut off the cycle when your clothes are dry, helping to minimize energy waste. Check to see if your machine has this setting, and if so, start using it whenever possible!
Save time by pre-drying
If your clothes are as dry as possible before they go into the dryer, this will help them dry quicker in the machine and of course, save you energy. Whether you can dry clothes partially on a drying rack inside your home or outside on a clothesline, doing so will help them take much less longer to get dry in the dryer, but still ensure that they come out soft, fluffy and smelling fresh.
If you don’t have anywhere to pre-dry clothes, try running the spin cycle more than once on every washing load.
Additionally, try tossing a clean, dry towel into the dryer with a wet load to help soak up the excess moisture. Just remember to take it out after 15 minutes or so, and hang it up to dry.
Now more than ever before, energy efficiency has become a growing concern for people all over the world, and taking small steps such as ensuring that your dryer vents are cleaned regularly, can help minimize energy wastage and keep electricity bills as low as possible.
