Kerman, CA

Most people have their furnaces cleaned regularly because they are concerned for the safety of their family; sadly, few think of their clothes dryer as a safety threat

Fresno, CA - Jon Perry, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Central California was recently interviewed. He expressed his feelings after a recent clothes dryer fire was reported. "Thankfully no one was injured." said Jon, "Sadly; the home was completely destroyed so the family lost everything. This could have easily been prevented with a good dryer vent cleaning. Most people do not realize that their clothes dryer is more likely to start a fire than any other appliance in their home."

When asked how so much lint could get into the dryer ducts, Jon explained, "Only about 60 percent of the lint that is removed from laundry is caught in the screen. Some makes it to the dryer duct system or accumulates around the dryer drum, motor, heating element and behind the dryer. As the moist lint sticks to the inside of the dryer duct, it attracts more lint that eventually builds up."

The next question was "So how does this start a fire?" Jon explained, "A clothes dryer fire occurs when lint builds up to the point of restricting air-flow, the heat cannot escape the drum, the entire system overheats and eventually causes a fire. Lint is combustible; therefore, fuel for a fire to spread rapidly."

Jon went on to explain other causes of clothes dryer fires, including the dryer duct and vent materials not meeting today's safety codes, or improper installation. "Short straight vents that are smooth inside and made of semi-rigid metal are the best. Bends and turns can hinder the air-flow. The best way to be sure your dryer vent system is fire safe and energy efficient is to order a professional inspection."

Jon Perry is the owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, a dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation specialist who serves consumers in Central California. Jon is committed to preventing fires in his community as he takes the time to educate his customer on dryer vent cleaning and maintenance to prevent fires and save energy. Jon provides more information and tips at http://dryerventcleaningfresno.blogspot.com/

Proper Dryer Vent Material

For many years the choice of material for clothes dryer venting was flexible plastic or vinyl, which is also commonly used for bathroom exhaust fans. This type of material is a problem because heat causes it to become brittle and deteriorate. Imagine the problems this can cause if you have a very long dryer duct running across the attic, basement ceiling, or inside walls. As flammable lint builds up and reduces air flow, the vent tube will overheat and eventually cause a serious fire.

Most building codes prohibit the use of plastic dryer duct material today. Dryer ducts made of plastic or vinyl should be replaced with semi-rigid metal, flexible layered aluminum or expandable aluminum ducting. Dryer vent cleaning and repair experts also recommend the vent to be as short as possible with few, if any turns or bends.

Rigid metal is the best and first choice. Dryers are not designed to blow the hot air with great force; therefore, once the air has gone 5 - 10 feet, the dryer begins to work harder. The smooth inside of a rigid metal duct system allows the dryer to perform more easily than a plastic or vinyl duct.

Expandable aluminum is a second choice. Though rigid metal is the best choice, there are times when it would be difficult to work with. Expandable aluminum ducting is more flexible, allowing bends and turns. It is expandable so it can be stretched out; the further it is stretched, the less air-flow resistance it will offer. It is a good compromise when rigid metal cannot be used.

Flexible layered aluminum ducting material is the third option. This is a composite material of aluminum foil layered with plastic fibers for strength. It is also flexible and can be used as a direct connection from the dryer to the wall. It does have a higher resistance to air flow and should only be used in short runs of under ten feet or in locations where more flexibility is needed.

Using the proper dryer duct material will allow your dryer to work more efficiently, venting the hot air and moisture from your dryer to the vent outside. A smooth, rigid metal duct will allow air and lint to escape more easily with less chance of build-up to restrict air flow. When air flow is restricted, the dryer works harder to do its job, costing more in energy consumption and eventually leading to overheating which can cause a fire.

This article was written by Jon Perry, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Central California. http://www.dryerventwizard offers a host of tips, tools, news reports, and links to help you keep your family and home safe from dryer fires. Dryer Vent Wizards inspects, cleans, repairs, and replaces dryer vent systems for home and business owners in Fresno County, Kerman, Sanger, Madera County, Oakhurst, Madera, Merced County, Livingston, Atwater, Los Banos, Merced, Tulare County, Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, Monterey County, San Benito County and neighboring cities and communities.