Carl Hein

Dryer vent cleaning is the number one prevention of clothes dryer fires. When dryer vent systems become clogged with lint, air flow is restricted, causing the dryer motor to labor. As a result, clothes take longer to dry and you will experience higher energy bills.

When a clothes dryer isn't functioning properly dryer vent cleaning cures the problem in most cases. There are other things that can go wrong with a clothes dryer, but lack of air flow is the number one problem with malfunctioning dryers.

On a recent job the customer had reported a heating failure. The technician replaced the element which solved the problem, but only for a very short time. The problem recurred after just a couple loads of laundry. Just before the failure, the customer stated that they heard a scratching noise coming from the dryer but the technician failed to find the cause.

Electric dryers are simple in design. They require an element to provide heat and blowers to provide air flow. If the heating element is not functioning properly it can overheat and cause a fire. When a customer complains that their dryer is not getting clothes dry, this is one of the first things an appliance repair specialist will check.

Since I was called to the customer's home soon after they had an appliance repair technician provide service, I told them I was going to check for a venting problem. I assumed a complete dryer vent cleaning was required. Part of dryer vent cleaning service is to clean inside the dryer too.

I took the drum out to check for the source of the scratching noise and noticed the bearings were worn, causing friction due to lack of lubrication. On this model, once the bearing has worn the back of the drum came into contact with the heating element causing arcing and breaking the new element.

The dryer worked fine after installing a new element and bearing kit. I cleaned up the metal shavings and lint, and then put the dryer back together. This took care of the heating problem.

Being in the dryer vent cleaning business, I informed the customer that they were lucky a spark didn't cause the lint inside the dryer to ignite. They were happy to allow me to perform a complete dryer exhaust cleaning to be sure the dryer was getting proper air flow to work efficiently.

This article was written by Carl Hein, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of St. Paul, Minnesota. DVW specializes in dryer vent cleaning, repair, installation and alterations, while educating consumers on dryer vent maintenance and fire safety. Carl services the Twin City Area of Minnesota. For more tips on dryer fire prevention visit http://dryerventcleaningstpaul.blogspot.com/

When dryers fail to function properly the problem is usually caused by restricted air flow

St. Paul, MN - Carl Hein owns and operates Dryer Vent Wizard in St. Paul, Minnesota. He specializes in all dryer exhaust issues. When clothes dryers fail to function properly the problem is usually due to lint clogged dryer exhaust ducts. Failure to properly maintain and clean dryer vents is the number one cause of clothes dryer fires; however, there are other causes as well.

Carl Hein recently went on a call when the customer complained that the dryer was making a scraping noise and it wasn't producing heat. When he looked into the problem he found that the scraping noises were caused by a lack of lubrication due to worn drum bearings. "The back of the drum was making contact with the heating element causing arcing which damaged the heating element," said Carl. "I replaced the element and noticed dryer lint built up inside the dryer. The sparks caused by the arcing could have easily caused the lint to ignite."

The customer was happy with Carl's service and relieved to have the problem repaired before they had a fire. "Most dryer fires are caused by failure to clean dryer vents," said Carl. "Appliance repair companies usually do not provide this service; they fix mechanical problems. Dryer Vent Wizard repairs and maintains dryers and dryer vent systems."

Carl Hein enjoys spending time with his customers to educate them on dryer fire safety and proper dryer vent maintenance to prevent fires and make their clothes dryers work efficiently. Read articles on Carl's blog at http://dryerventcleaningstpaul.blogspot.com/

Dryer Vent Wizard, Dry Clothes Safe Homes is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the largest chain of dryer vent cleaning, repair, replacement and alternation specialists in the U.S. with over 50 franchisees in major markets in the U.S. Visit http://www.dryerventwizard.com to learn more.

Most clothes dryer fires are the result of poor maintenance; dryer vent cleaning is the number one defense against dryer fires

Minneapolis, MN - Carl Hein, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, is a dryer vent cleaning technician servicing the Twin Cities, Minnesota area. During a recent interview, Carl said, "Of the 15,000 clothes dryer fires reported annually, most of them could have been prevented with proper maintenance. Annual dryer vent cleaning is recommended to provide proper airflow required to keep a clothes dryer operating safely and efficiently. Not only will dryer vent cleaning prevent fires, it also helps to reduce energy costs."

When asked how lint builds up in dryer ducts, Carl explained, "Only about 60% of lint is caught in the lint screen; the rest escapes into the dryer ducts. The main function of a dryer vent system is to carry heat and moisture from your home. Though some lint can make its way outside most of the lint that is in the dryer duct system remains there until it is cleaned out."

Carl Hein services the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, providing dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation while educating his customers on dryer fire safety and proper maintenance to keep clothes dryers running efficiently. Manufacturers recommend professional dryer vent cleaning annually.

Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW), Dry Clothes, Safe Homes is a national franchise company specializing in dryer fire prevention and dryer vent repair, replacement and alterations. They were founded in 2004, by David Lavalle in Boston, Massachusetts. DVW is headquartered in Warren, Michigan with 50 franchise locations in the U.S. Visit http://www.dryerventwizard.com to learn more.

Home, yard and appliance maintenance are a never ending project; there is always something that requires a homeowner's attention. Whether for looks, durability, safety or efficiency, all home maintenance is essential to keep things in working order.

The most common appliance maintenance issue often overlooked by homeowners is the clothes dryer. Most people are unaware that the clothes dryer is one of the most likely appliances to cause a fire if not properly maintained.

Unless you're one of the unfortunate people who have experienced a dryer fire you probably haven't given it much thought. Over 15,000 clothes dryer fires are reported annually; most of them could have been prevented with proper dryer vent cleaning and maintenance.

Your dryer duct system removes the moisture, heat and lint from your laundry as it dries. If you have a gas dryer, it also removes gas by-products that you don't want venting into your home as they pose a carbon monoxide risk.

Approximately 60% of the lint is caught in the lint screen that should be cleaned after each load of laundry. The other 40% escapes into your dryer duct system where it builds up and eventually obstructs airflow required by your clothes dryer.

Sticky, moist lint attracts more lint. It can build up quite quickly. Lint is combustible; a dryer fire will spread very quickly. A professional dryer vent cleaning specialist can inspect your system to be sure it meets today's safety codes. Not only is dryer vent cleaning essential; proper installation, using the right materials is important to ensure safety.

This article was written by Carl Hein, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of St. Paul, Minnesota. DVW specializes in dryer vent cleaning, repair, installation and alterations, while educating consumers on dryer vent maintenance and fire safety. Carl services the Twin City Area of Minnesota. For more tips on dryer fire prevention or to order dryer vent cleaning service or inspection, go to http://dryerventcleaningminneapolis.blogspot.com/

Clothes dryers are the simplest of appliances to use; so simple, we allow our children to operate them! They are a wonderful convenience, and they are often taken for granted. Throw in a load of wet clothes, turn it on, go shopping and return to take out dry clothes to be folded and put away. Sound good? Think again!

What is your clothes dryer really doing? It is removing about 1/2 gallon of water, hot air and lint from each load of laundry you do. Where do the heat, lint and water go? Most of the lint is caught in the lint screen which should be checked before each load and cleaned after each load. When you remove the lint screen, most of the trapped lint stays on it; some falls off in the chute and ends up in the dryer ducts. Most of this lint is blown out through the vent outside.

If your dryer is ideally located on an outside wall on the first floor of your home, the duct is short and straight, so most of the lint will make its way outside and not cause a problem. But if your dryer is located on an interior wall, the duct system could be 15 or 20 feet long with 90 degree turns. In this case, it is more likely that lint will become trapped in the duct work.

The Hidden Danger Lurking in the Dryer Vent System

As your dryer vent system is removing heat, moisture and lint from your clothing, the moist lint can stick to the sides of the dryer ducts. The hot air dries this to a hard crust which more moist lint can stick to. As this builds up, it restricts air flow and causes your dryer to work harder to perform its job. This causes overheating and eventually, a devastating fire. Lint is combustible and can ignite quickly. The trapped heat will cause a fire to spread quickly. Therefore, you should never leave your house or go to sleep with the dryer running.

Maintenance is the Solution

Dryer vent cleaning and proper maintenance is the solution to this potential danger. A professional dryer vent cleaning specialist has the tools to make this job easier, especially if your duct system is very long, or makes turns through walls before ending at the outside vent. Proper dryer vent maintenance helps your clothes dryer to operate more efficiently, saving you money on your utility bills and promoting fire safety. The cost of a service call is far less that the cost of the damage that caused by a fire.

This article was written by Carl Hein, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of St. Paul, Minnesota. DVW specializes in dryer vent cleaning, repair, installation and alterations, while educating consumers on dryer vent maintenance and fire safety. Carl services the Twin City Area of Minnesota. For more tips on dryer fire prevention or to order dryer vent cleaning service or inspection, go to http://www.dryerventwizard.com