Appliance maintenance is essential to prolong its life and efficiency. Most people are aware of this as they schedule maintenance and cleaning for their furnace or clothes dryer. Once a year is usually sufficient; however, if you have a large family and you're doing more than the average amount of laundry, you might need schedule this more often. Here are some things to consider when deciding how often to have your dryer vent system serviced:
Age of the Dryer:
Older appliances are generally less efficient than newer models. The older your dryer is, the more likely it is that there is lint built up in the ducts. It is also likely that the dryer vent system is constructed of older materials that do not meet code and UL standards today. Older dryers can require more maintenance than today's newer, more efficient models.
Amount of Use:
Maybe you only need your furnace cleaned once a year (or less), but remember, the size of your family does not have an effect on how often your furnace runs. Your clothes dryer is a different story. If you have a small family, and you are only doing a couple loads a week, once a year is probably sufficient for a professional inspection of the dryer vent system. If you have a large family and are doing 10 -15 (or more) loads per week, you are moving a lot of lint through your dryer duct system. In this case, you will want to schedule a professional dryer vent cleaning at least twice a year to be safe.
Length and Path of Dryer Duct
The best place for your clothes dryer is on an outside wall, on the first floor of your home, so that the dryer duct will be very short and lead straight to the outside of your home. If your dryer is in the basement or an upper level, or located on an inside wall, the dryer duct is much longer and probably has some bends before it reaches the vent outside. As moisture, lint and heat travel through this long path, the chances are great that some will not make it outside. Wet lint will stick to the sides of your dryer ducts, forming a hard crust which will build up and restrict air flow. If your vent tube has many turns, especially 90 degree angles, this increases the chances of lint becoming trapped. If it is not possible to alter the design of your dryer duct system, you will need to schedule professional cleaning more often. A dryer vent cleaning specialist will have the necessary tools to tackle this job more easily than the average homeowner.
Fire Safety and Energy Cost
Dryer vent cleaning and maintenance is vital to your clothes dryer running efficiently and safely. When the duct system is clogged with lint, air flow is limited; the dryer works harder, and costs more to operate. The system can overheat, eventually causing a fire. The cost of a professional cleaning is low compared to the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged dryer or worse, your home and belongings if you should have a fire. Your dryer vent cleaning professional can advise you as to how often your dryer vent system needs to be serviced.
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
"Don't Let Your Dryer Start a Fire, Keep Your Home Safe & Sound" are part of Dryer Vent Wizard's ongoing campaign promoting dryer vent safety & fire protection
Minneapolis, MN--According to the US Fire Administration, dryer fires account for an average of $15,000 dryer fires annually. Carl Hein, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Minnesota said, "Failure to properly clean and maintain dryer vents is the major cause of clothes dryer fires." Carl Hein is franchise owner/operator of Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW), Dry Clothes, Safe Homes, a home service franchise based in Minnesota serving the Twin Cities area.
In cooperation with the NFPA, Dryer Vent Wizard is providing advice to consumers to minimize the risk of dryer fires. Carl advises consumers to be sure the dryer vent systems are up to code with the city, state and manufacturer by replacing any plastic or foil vent systems with semi-rigid or solid metal venting. Consumers should be sure lint screens are clean before and after drying each load of laundry. "I receive emails and letters from customers thanking me for bringing this to their attention," said Carl at a recent interview.
Carl makes sure his customers understand the warning signs to look for, including clothes taking more than one cycle to dry, no visible lint on the lint screen, dryer repeatedly stops during a cycle, clothing having a moldy smell after a dry cycle, and clothing being very hot after a dry cycle. "People are not aware that their clothes dryer has a greater chance of causing a fire than their furnace or stove!" explains Carl. "I make sure my customers understand this before I leave their home."
http://www.dryerventwizard.com specializes in dryer fire prevention and "urgent response" dryer and vent maintenance, repair, replacement and alterations. DVW services keep dryers functioning properly, prevent dryer fires and reduce energy costs. Carl Hein services the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Scott, Washington, Ramsey, Rice, Dakota, Goodhue, Wabasha, Hennepin, Carver, Anoka, Wright, Stearns, St. Paul and neighboring cities and communities.
Contact:
Dryer Vent Wizard of St. Paul
Carl Hein
Phone: 866-498-7233
Email: chein@dryerventwizard.com
Website: http://www.dryerventwizard.com
This press release was submitted by Right Now Marketing Group, LLC
Carl was upset when he heard that a dryer fire broke out in a local apartment building, costing many occupants their home
Minneapolis, MN--Recent news reported a clothes dryer fire in an apartment building causing serious damage and leaving occupants homeless. Thankfully, there were no injuries, but many people lost everything they have. "Most upsetting is the fact that this could have easily been prevented," said Carl Hein, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, servicing the Twin City area of Minnesota.
Carl Hein, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard recently attended landlord's association meeting, where he set up a display to demonstrate dryer vent safety. He brought samples of proper and improper dryer vent material and explained how using the wrong type can create a fire hazard. "Dryer vents should be professionally inspected at least once a year to prevent lint build-up from causing a fire. When tenants don't properly maintain their dryer vent systems, the landlords end up being liable for whatever happens. In large buildings, many lives are at risk, because of one negligent tenant," Carl explained.
Dryer Vent Wizard, Dry Clothes, Safe Homes, specializes in dryer vent cleaning, repair, installation and alterations. They also provide a great service to their community, educating each customer in dryer vent maintenance and dryer fire prevention. "My job isn't finished until my customer understands how to properly maintain their dryer vent system between annual inspections," said Carl.
Carl Hein urges landlords and apartment building managers to have all dryer vents in the building professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year or whenever a tenant moves out. "The cost of the inspections and necessary repairs is really small compared to potential damages, injuries and even loss of lives if a fire should occur," said Carl. Visit http://www.dryerventwizard.com for great fire prevention tips and more information.
Carl Hein services the Twin City Area of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Scott, Washington, Ramsey, Rice, Dakota, Goodhue, Wabasha, Hennepin, Carver, Anoka, Wright, Stearns, St. Paul
Contact:
Dryer Vent Wizard of St. Paul
Carl Hein
Phone: 866-498-7233
Email: chein@dryerventwizard.com
Website: http://www.dryerventwizard.com
Dryer vent wizard, dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent exhaust cleaning, dryer vent repair, air duct cleaning
Don't let your dryer start a fire; keep your home safe and sound. Dryer Vent Wizard professionally inspects and cleans clothing dryers for homeowners and in commercially-owned buildings. Poorly maintained dryer vents cause fire hazards and cost substantially more to operate.
Why Dryer Vent Cleaning is so Important!
•· Dryer vents clogged with lint cost $18-24 more per month.
•· There are 15,500 fires every year caused by dryer vents.
•· Dryer manufacturers recommend you clean your dryer vent every year.
•· Regular dryer vent maintenance prolongs the life of your dryer.
Our services include:
•· Dryer vent cleaning
•· Dryer vent repair
•· Dryer vent alterations
•· Dryer vent tube installations
Contact:
Dryer Vent Wizard of St. Paul
Carl Hein
Phone: 866-498-7233
Email: chein@dryerventwizard.com
Website: http://www.dryerventwizard.com
Service area: Twin City Area of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Scott, Washington, Ramsey, Rice, Dakota, Goodhue, Wabasha, Hennepin, Carver, Anoka, Wright, Stearns, St. Paul
We specialize in dryer vent cleaning and consumer education on dryer vent safety. We strive to increase public awareness on dryer vent maintenance to prevent clothes dryer fires.
Dryer Vent: Cleaning, Repair, Alteration & Installation Service
Dryer Vent Wizard professionally inspects and cleans clothing dryers for homeowners and in commercially-owned buildings. Poorly maintained dryer vents cause fire hazards and cost substantially more to operate.
(Click here to watch a Fire Prevention video)
Why Dryer Vent Cleaning is So Important!
Get a FREE Dryer Vent Check Safety Tool Kit
To increase awareness of dryer vent safety, DVW is offering Tips & Tools. Homeowners & community groups are encouraged to download the Tips brochure and the video, "Don´t Let Your Dryer Start a Fire, Keep Your Home Safe and Sound". FREE dryer vent safety check kits that help identify dryer vent problems can also be ordered!
Call 1-866-498-SAFE (7233) for your dryer check-up & cleaning
We service the Twin City Area of Minnesota, Scott, Washington, Ramsey, Rice, Dakota, Goodhue, Wabasha, Hennepin, Carver, Anoka, Wright, Stearns, St. Paul
Call Toll-Free 1-866-498-7233 (SAFE) to order our services by appointment or use the form on our site at http://www.dryerventwizard.com
Our services include:
We also educate consumers on the importance of dryer vent maintenance and proper installation of dryer vents, using materials that meet city and manufacturer's codes.
See our website for valuable information and dryer vent safety tips.
Great Dryer Vent Cleaning!
The following was sent to about 175 people by a satisfied customer:
"Okay, you are going to think I am crazy e-mailing you about your dryer - BUT - when we moved here over a year ago, I finally got a great set. Only when we used it, I noticed that after a few months I had to run it twice to get my loads dry. (I thought nothing of it b/c it seemed no matter where I lived, my dryers ran twice on heavy loads.) I just figured this is how it is with all dryers."
Well, the past few weeks, we have had to run our dryer even up to 4 times on a heavy load. There was even a "moldy" type smell in our towels. I called a dryer repair guy b/c I figured the heating element was going out. He told me that on dryers, if it is drying, even a little, it is more likely to be my dryer vent. He told me to hire someone to come and clean the vent that goes through the house.
I thought I could do it myself, so I went downstairs and pulled the vent out of the wall to find an extreme amount of build-up!!! It was damp and had that "moldy" smell that my towels have had. I tried to clean it out and the more I reached in the more clogged it was. I knew if it was clogged here, that the inside pipe had to be backed up.
I called a place called "Dryer Vent Wizard". It runs normally about $150 to come out, inspect and clean. That is for a normal 20 foot pipe. Ours ran 36 feet and was up and down and all around - causing our vent build-up. Even though it was over $150 for our case to clean it, let me tell you IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!
After he cleaned it out filling a 5 gallon tub full of lint, I ran my dryer for a load and it dried PERFECTLY in a shorter amount if time. I have honestly NEVER had my clothes dry so fast. It seems like common sense that the vent needs to be cleaned, but thinking about it, this house was never cleaned in over 20 years and no other house I ever lived in was ever cleaned - so it was never my dryers, but probably my vents all along!!!
Anyway, they charge $39 to come out and take a look. (For a membership type thing of like $29 they will come out once a year and not charge the $39 fee.)
I HIGHLY recommend it!! Just thought I´d pass this along! We spend time and money on ‘big purchases' like our oil changes, etc. - why not keep other important things maintained? Not to mention it is a huge fire hazard!
Dryer Vent Wizard´s # is: 1-866-498-safe (7233) for someone in your area. (Alabama)
Dryer Vent Cleaning Made my Dryer Feel Like New Again!
Clothes Dry Faster After Dryer Vent Cleaning
Great Job with Dryer Vent Tube Installation
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