All appliances require proper maintenance in order for them to work safely and efficiently. Unfortunately, too many people take their clothes dryers for granted; fill it with wet laundry, set the dial, turn it on and remove dry clothes 30 - 45 minutes later.
I recently got a call from a woman who purchased a new dryer because the one she had was taking several cycles to get her clothes dry. She assumed it was old and worn out. The delivery man installed the dryer and she began using it, but she noticed that it ran very hot. I just happened to be in her neighborhood on a service call and she took down the number printed on my work van. I went to her home after completing the job I was on.
The first thing I noticed was that the dryer duct was the old vinyl type and it was longer than necessary. The excess tubing was coiled and jammed behind the dryer while the rest of it extended about 10 feet to the dryer vent outside. When I disconnected it from the dryer, I noticed that it was full of lint. I found it unbelievable that an appliance deliver person would attach this dirty old thing to a new appliance. I explained to the customer how her dryer is unable to vent the hot air; therefore working too hard, wasting energy and it's a fire hazard.
I explained that this type of venting is not in compliance with today's safety codes. The vinyl material is really designed for bathroom exhaust fans and not for clothes dryers. We only install dryer ducts of rigid or semi-rigid metal that is smooth inside to minimize lint build-up.
I also broke her heart when I explained that she probably did not need a new dryer. She needed a better dryer exhaust system. The dryer ducts and dryer vent are responsible for removing lint, heat and moisture from the dryer drum to the outdoors. If you have a gas dryer the system also removes gas by-products from your home. A poorly vented gas dryer can cause carbon monoxide to leak into your home.
When the dryer ducts are clogged with lint then heat cannot escape the dryer drum; they system overheats and the lint catches on fire. Lint is very combustible; therefore, fuel for a rapidly spreading fire. Clogged dryer ducts also cause a dryer to cost an additional $18-24 per month to operate.
Mory Matias is the owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Northshore Chicago, specializing in dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation. Mory specializes in all dryer exhaust issues as he educates his customers on the importance of annual dryer vent cleaning and proper dryer vent installation to prevent fires and save energy. Read more great articles written by Mory Matias at http://dryerventcleaningwilmette.blogspot.com/
If you live in a newer home you may be thinking everything is up to code because the home was built more recently than others in your area. Surprisingly, dryer venting and dryer exhaust systems are often improperly installed. I've seen newer homes with the dryer venting into the attic. Builders will defend this practice saying it is OK; however, the law states that a clothes dryer must be vented outdoors.
Improper dryer venting can cause serious problems in your home. The dryer exhaust removes the heat and moisture from your dryer to the outdoors. If your dryer is venting into an attic, basement or crawl space, mildew is allowed to grow. Mold and mildew cause damage to your home and problems with your health, namely, upper respiratory irritation. Worse yet, it is a fire hazard. Lint is highly combustible, making great fuel for a quickly spreading fire.
As your dryer runs the blower motor pushes the hot, moist air through the dryer duct to the vent outdoors. The problem is that there is a limit as to how far the motor can push the air. The longer the ducts and the more bends and turns they have, the more resistance there is.
Smooth metal pipe is recommended by clothes dryer manufacturers today; not the plastic corrugated venting that is so popular due to easy installation. Flexible foil and vinyl vents can easily become crushed behind the dryer, blocking air flow and creating a fire hazard.
It is OK to vent a dryer through the roof if you use the right type of exhaust hood to draw out the hot air. A hood with a wide flange is the best type for a roof-top dryer vent. A dryer should not be vented through the soffits.
If you live in an area where the climate is cooler be sure your vent pipe is properly insulated to prevent condensation from running down the pipe and leaking down the pipe and pooling under the dryer.
Sections of dryer duct should be properly joined, using metal tape, not screws that protrude into the duct to catch and trap lint.
The best dryer exhaust system is semi-rigid metal, smooth inside, joined with metal tape, as short as possible and has as few turns as possible. Professional dryer vent cleaning is recommended each year to be sure your system is working properly. A dryer vent system that is properly installed and properly maintained will increase the life of your clothes dryer, save energy and prevent a fire.
Mory Matias, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, specializes in dryer vent and dryer exhaust. Mory provides professional inspections, dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation in the North side Chicago area in Cook 
and Lake Counties. Read more articles containing appliance maintenance tips on Mory's blog at http://dryerventcleaningchicago.blogspot.com/
Improper dryer exhaust installation is even common in newer homes and just as much a fire hazard as in the older homes
Chicago, IL - Mory Matias, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard in Chicago, recently inspected a dryer exhaust system in a newer home. The homeowner was confident that everything would be correct and up to code because the home was less than one year old.
Mory looked behind the clothes dryer and he was happy to find that the proper material was used for the dryer ducts; semi-rigid metal instead of corrugated plastic or vinyl. The pieces were joined with metal tape rather than screws that protrude into the inside of the ducts to catch and trap lint.
Mory followed the duct to see where it ends; he was disappointed to find that it went right into the attic. "There was a pile of lint in the attic and I could see that mold and mildew was growing on the rafters," said Mory. "Mold will eventually cause the rafters to rot. Mold spores in the home cause upper respiratory problems for people too. By law, the dryer must be vented outdoors. If you have a gas dryer, you are also risking carbon monoxide in your home."
Mory also explained the importance of properly insulating a dryer duct that goes through the roof to prevent condensation from running down and perhaps pooling behind the clothes dryer. It is also important to have the proper type of exhaust hood with a wide flange for dryers that are vented through the roof.
The best dryer exhaust system is made of semi-rigid metal, smooth inside, joined with metal tape and is as short and straight as possible. Mory explained, "The longer your dryer exhaust pipe is, the more resistance there is to air-flow. Bends and turns also cause resistance. Proper air-flow is essential for a clothes dryer to work safely and efficiently, saving energy and preventing fires."
Mory Matias, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard provides professional dryer vent inspections, dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation in the Chicago area. http://www.dryerventwizard.com has a policy that all technicians explain to their customers how their dryer exhaust system works and how to properly maintain the system between annual professional visits.
Dryer vent cleaning and maintenance prolongs the life of your dryer, saves on energy bills and prevents fires
Chicago, Ill - Mory Matias is known for his efforts to promote public awareness of dryer vent cleaning and proper dryer exhaust maintenance to prevent fires. Some people would say that Mory is constantly "venting" about dryer vent cleaning.
Mory is often overheard by others when he is speaking to consumers or apartment building managers about the danger of lint build-up in dryer ducts. "Think about what the dryer vent and exhaust ducts are removing from your home," said Matias. "Heat, moisture and lint must escape the dryer drum in order for clothes to come out dry. In addition, if you have a gas dryer, then proper venting is essential to prevent carbon monoxide from leaking into your home."
Mory says a lot about the danger of lint build-up, in just a few words, "Hot sticky lint builds up on the inside of your dryer duct to the point of restricting air flow, causing overheating, and eventually, a fire. Lint being very combustible, adds plenty of fuel for a fire to spread quickly."
Mory also talks a lot about the old fashioned vinyl or plastic venting systems that all dryers used to have; sadly, many still do. "There are a number of problems with vinyl, plastic and flexible foil dryer ducts; they crack and break, they're easily crushed or the excess tubing is coiled and stuffed behind the dryer, making it impossible for it to vent hot air and lint. Using materials that do not meet current safety standards can void the warranty on your clothes dryer."
Dryer Vent Wizard of Chicago provides dryer vent cleaning and dryer vent services to residential and commercial customers in Cook County, Arlington Heights, Chicago, Oak Forest, Lake County and neighboring cities and communities.
There is a man on a mission to prevent clothes dryer fires in Chicago. He is a dryer vent cleaning and dryer exhaust specialist who is concerned with the safety of consumers and business owners in his community. Some say he is constantly ranting, raving and "venting" about dryer vent cleaning. The Chicago Wizard vents:
Dryer Vents and Ducts
Your clothes dryer requires proper air-flow in order to do its job efficiently. The dryer vent and exhaust duct is responsible for removing heat, moisture and lint from your laundry as it dries. Hot moist lint that escapes the lint screen often ends up stuck to the sides of the dryer exhaust duct; though some will make it to the vent outdoors.
Dryer vents and ducts are also responsible for removing gas by-products from your home; if you have a gas dryer, poor venting can result in carbon monoxide leaking into your home.
Lint Build-up Restricts Air-flow
Eventually, trapped lint will build up in the dryer duct, or inside the dryer near the motor, causing the dryer to work harder to do its job. The harder the dryer is working, the more you are spending on energy to operate the dryer, and the greater the chances are that the dryer will break down. Dryer vent cleaning helps to save energy and reduce the need for repair expenses as it prolongs the life of the dryer.
When the dryer is taking more than one cycle to properly dry a load of clothes, chances are likely that the ducts are clogged with lint. Heat and moisture cannot escape the dryer drum. You may also notice that clothes are very hot when you remove them, or that the outside of the dryer is very hot.
When lint is allowed to build up to the point of restricting air-flow it causes overheating which eventually leads to a fire. The lint is very combustible; therefore, fuel for a fire that will spread quickly.
Properly Installed
In addition to proper maintenance, a dryer duct and vent system must meet current safety standards. Too many people are still using the old plastic, vinyl or flexible foil type of venting for their dryers. These are no longer considered to be safe for several reasons.
These are just a few of the problems associated with an insufficient dryer duct system. The ideal venting is short, has few turns, is smooth inside and is made of semi-rigid metal.
Mory Matias is the Chicago Wizard; owner/operator of Dryer Vent Wizard serving the Northshore Chicago area. Mory provides dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation services while he explains the importance of proper maintenance to his customers.
Dryer Vent Wizard is committed to promoting dryer fire safety awareness throughout thier community. They provide top-notch dryer vent cleaning service and maintenance.
Mory Matias, who used to work in product development, is now dedicated to helping his local community prevent easily avoidable dryer fires. He is committed to providing a quality service for home and business owners that will help them achieve tangible safety and savings through regular dryer vent maintenance.
According to Mory Matias, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Northshore Chicago, most consumers are unaware that annual dryer and dryer vent maintenance is required to keep the dryer running properly and to prevent dryer fires. Additionally, annual maintenance can save energy and associated costs.
When a consumer finds their dryer taking multiple cycles to dry clothes or if it keeps stopping during a cycle, the cause could be lint accumulation in the vent line, causing the dryer to work inefficiently or not at all. Annual maintenance can mean lower energy bills, since the result is the dryer not having to work so long and hard to dry clothes. In addition, clothes don't wear out as quickly when they don't have to go through multiple cycles.
While cleaning a dryer vent may seem like a very simple and sensible thing to do, the fact of the matter is, many people just don't do it. Time is a precious commodity for most people today. Busy households have an urgent need to get their dryers up and running safely and efficiently. This is why they call Dryer Vent Wizard to help them obtain a quick solution to their dryer vent problems.
Dryer Vent Wizard services North Side Chicago and North Shore Suburbs, Cook and Lake Counties, Evanston, Wilmette, Lincolnwood, Skokie, Morton Grove, Kenilworth, Glenview, Northbrook, Northfield, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Deerfield
Our services include:
We also strive to promote public awareness of fire safety and clothes dryers. We encourage consurmers to go to http://www.dryerventwizard.com and get their free dryer vent safety check too kit.
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
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.
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