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The Importance of a Clean Lint Filter - May 2019
We're moving into dryer season here in Australia (for most of us - if you live in the tropics, you're moving out of dryer season!).
While we don't have a dryer anymore, many homes do, and they use them regularly.
Now is the time to spend just a little extra time to save a lot of money. No one ever thinks about tending the clothes dryer; at least not until the dryer takes forever to dry a load of clothes. Most new dryers have a handy, easy to clean lint filter that is in the front and centre where you clean it out with every use.
A dirty lint filter costs you four ways:
1.Blocking airflow - The fluffy residue from your clothes, called lint, collects in the filter. When it gets full, it blocks heated air. Since it can't flow freely, your clothes take longer to dry.
2.Using more power -your dryer also has to use more power to dry your clothes. The harder it works, the more energy it uses up.
Both of these situations result in a higher energy bill.
3.Strain on the motor - the extra power it takes and longer drying periods makes the appliance motor work harder. Your dryer motor is at risk of more repairs and a shorter lifespan. Eventually, that costs you money.
4.Fire hazard - lint collects in the filter, as well as around it and under it. All of this can become a fire hazard if your dryer overheats or malfunctions. That can really cost you money.
Cleaning a lint catcher is a simple chore, and you should do it after every load, but what about the other end of the vent hose; you know, the outside end that probably puts out that warm humid air full of lint under the house? This is the end of the dryer that is usually forgotten. Over a period of time, lint can build up at the end of the vent tube, blocking it and causing heat to build up. Eventually the built-up lint and heat can cause a fire to start, risking not only your home but your lives as well.
When your dryer isn't drying clothes as fast as it should, think to check the outside end. Mine used to run from the back of the dryer through a hole in the floor to under the house. By moving the dryer out and gently pulling the vent tube out of the hole, I could easily check to see if it was clean and clear. When you do this, take the time to dust the back of the dryer and the outside of the vent tube, as dust and lint build up there, too. Make sure the opening stays clear and your dryer use will be minimised. That's a lot of money to save.
Get into the habit of checking the vent tubes of your dryer when you change the batteries in your smoke detectors, more often if you use your dryer a lot. You will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing there is no fire smouldering below your home just waiting to burst into flames and you'll see a saving on your power bill too.
While we don't have a dryer anymore, many homes do, and they use them regularly.
Now is the time to spend just a little extra time to save a lot of money. No one ever thinks about tending the clothes dryer; at least not until the dryer takes forever to dry a load of clothes. Most new dryers have a handy, easy to clean lint filter that is in the front and centre where you clean it out with every use.
A dirty lint filter costs you four ways:
1.Blocking airflow - The fluffy residue from your clothes, called lint, collects in the filter. When it gets full, it blocks heated air. Since it can't flow freely, your clothes take longer to dry.
2.Using more power -your dryer also has to use more power to dry your clothes. The harder it works, the more energy it uses up.
Both of these situations result in a higher energy bill.
3.Strain on the motor - the extra power it takes and longer drying periods makes the appliance motor work harder. Your dryer motor is at risk of more repairs and a shorter lifespan. Eventually, that costs you money.
4.Fire hazard - lint collects in the filter, as well as around it and under it. All of this can become a fire hazard if your dryer overheats or malfunctions. That can really cost you money.
Cleaning a lint catcher is a simple chore, and you should do it after every load, but what about the other end of the vent hose; you know, the outside end that probably puts out that warm humid air full of lint under the house? This is the end of the dryer that is usually forgotten. Over a period of time, lint can build up at the end of the vent tube, blocking it and causing heat to build up. Eventually the built-up lint and heat can cause a fire to start, risking not only your home but your lives as well.
When your dryer isn't drying clothes as fast as it should, think to check the outside end. Mine used to run from the back of the dryer through a hole in the floor to under the house. By moving the dryer out and gently pulling the vent tube out of the hole, I could easily check to see if it was clean and clear. When you do this, take the time to dust the back of the dryer and the outside of the vent tube, as dust and lint build up there, too. Make sure the opening stays clear and your dryer use will be minimised. That's a lot of money to save.
Get into the habit of checking the vent tubes of your dryer when you change the batteries in your smoke detectors, more often if you use your dryer a lot. You will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing there is no fire smouldering below your home just waiting to burst into flames and you'll see a saving on your power bill too.