Commercial Dryer Vent Cleaning
Before a dryer vent system can be cleaned, it helps to know what you're working with.
The photos below were taken during inspections of apartment complexes and highlight several issues discovered throughout the dryer vent system.
What the Camera Found
The images here show a lint blockage near the exterior vent cover and standing water farther inside the same vent line.
As lint accumulated near the cover, moisture became trapped inside the vent instead of being pushed outdoors.
Wet Lint Removed During Cleaning
The wet lint shown here was removed from behind the dryer in the same vent line pictured above.
The blockage near the exterior vent cover wasn't the only issue found within the line. Additional buildup was discovered closer to the dryer and removed during the cleaning process.
Bee Nest Inside Exterior Vent Cover
A bee nest had formed inside this exterior dryer vent cover.
Bees around a dryer vent are a problem for residents, maintenance staff, and anyone walking near the building. They can also move deeper into the vent system toward the dryer or laundry area.
The premium metal covers we install do not have a surface area where nests like this can form.
Lint Buildup on a Caged Vent Cover
Lint had already started collecting on the cage of this exterior vent cover.
Once lint starts catching there, every load of laundry adds more buildup. The cage blocks the lint from leaving cleanly, which makes the dryer work harder and creates a preventable maintenance issue for the property.
Caged and screened vent covers should not be installed on dryer vent systems. They are not code-compliant because they trap lint.
Detached Backdraft Dampers
Both backdraft dampers had detached from these exterior vent covers and were sitting at the bottom of the cages.
The damper is the part that should open while the dryer is running and close when the dryer shuts off. Once it breaks loose, the exterior vent cover no longer functions the way it should. The dryer vent is left without a working backdraft damper, leaving an open path for outside air, pests, and weather to enter the vent.
For a multi-unit property, this is not just cosmetic damage. The vent cover is damaged, the code-required damper is missing, and the cover should be replaced.
The photos above show why commercial dryer vent cleaning should include more than running a brush through the line.