Previously, we talked about how you can maintain your dryer vent between professional servicing, how often you should get professional cleaning services for your vent and why a dirty dryer vent is a fire hazard. Now, we’ll take a look at the negative effects that a neglected dryer vent may have on your insurance costs.
Dirty and clogged dryer vents are a major fire hazard, so the effect they may have on your home insurance cost is quite significant. As a guideline for safer households, a dryer’s vent should ideally be constructed with galvanized rigid steel pipes, given their structural strength and minimal lint accumulation. If your vent doesn’t meet this safety standard, insurance inspectors might deem your home as risky, leading to higher insurance costs.
Increased Fire Risk
Clothes dryer fires contribute to a substantial amount of property damage each year. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, dryer vent fires result in an estimated $35 million in property loss annually.
Increased Claims
From an insurer’s perspective, a property with a higher risk of dryer vent fires is likely to generate more insurance claims. This increased likelihood of claims often translates into higher insurance premiums for the policyholder.
Possible Coverage Denial
In extreme cases, if a dryer vent fire occurs and it’s found that the vent was not maintained properly, an insurance company might deny the fire damage claim entirely.
With MainDuct, you’ll get documentation for all of the services provided. By keeping a well-documented record of regular professional dryer vent maintenance, you can provide proof to your insurance company that you are taking necessary steps to mitigate fire risks.
In our next post on the subject of dryer vent cleaning, we’ll take a look at an interesting case of a routine dryer vent cleaning service that led to the discovery of the flexible duct inside the wall and take a look at the solutions we provide for this problem.
