Emilie Benvegna

Dryer vent cleaning; is it really that big of a deal? Questions answered during recent interview with Emilie Benvegna, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard

Huntersville, NC - Emilie Benvegna is the owner/operator of Dryer Vent Wizard of Charlotte, NC. During a recent interview, Emilie made it quite clear that dryer vent cleaning is important.

When asked, "Honestly, do I really need to concern myself with dryer vent cleaning?" Emilie answered, "Yes! The clothes dryer is one of the leading causes of house fires. Failure to maintain the dryer exhaust system causes over 15,000 fires annually."

The next question was, "How often is dryer vent cleaning recommended?" Emilie said, "Dryer vent cleaning is recommended at least once a year; more often if you have a large family or several pets, as pet hair also clogs a dryer vent system."

Someone who owns a newer home asked Emilie, "I have a newer home with the laundry room upstairs near the bedrooms. Does this mean I have a more efficient system that requires less maintenance?" Emilie answered, "No! Though there are advantages to newer appliances being more energy efficient, your clothes dryer requires proper air-flow in order to perform its job. The location of your laundry room requires longer exhaust ducts; therefore, more places for lint to build up and create a problem."

Another person told Emilie, "My old dryer is taking much longer to dry a load of clothes than it did when it was new; therefore, I think I should go ahead and buy a new dryer before having any work done on the dryer exhaust." Emilie responded, "If your dryer is heating up and clothes are not drying, it is because there is no air-flow. Lint has built up so heat and moisture cannot escape from the dryer drum. Even a brand new dryer will not work if the dryer ducts are blocked."

Emilie Benvegna is the owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Charlotte North Carolina. She started business in 2006 and has over seven years of experience in the construction field industry. Emilie provides dryer vent cleaning and repairs for consumers and businesses in Cabarrus and Mecklenburg Counties and neighboring cities and communities. Learn more at http://www.charlottedryerventlady.com

There is always something that needs a homeowner's attention, including yard maintenance, appliance maintenance, plumbing, electrical and much more! It all can be very overwhelming; some important things are often forgotten.

The most common appliance maintenance issue often overlooked by homeowners is the clothes dryer. We throw in a load of wet laundry, set the dial and take it for granted as it usually gives us the result we are looking for; dry clothes.

Unless you're one of the unfortunate people who have experienced a dryer fire you probably don't give it much thought. Do you know that over 15,000 dryer fires are reported annually? Almost every one of these fires is caused by failure to maintain with proper dryer vent cleaning.

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 some of it makes it to the vent outside. Some gets stuck in the ducts along the way. As the lint builds up, air flow is restricted; therefore, the heat and moisture cannot escape and clothes take longer to dry.

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 of proper materials is important to ensure safety.

This article was written by Emilie Benvegna, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Fort Mill, SC. Emilie specializes in dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, maintenance and installation, while educating consumers on preventing dryer fires and saving energy. Visit http://www.charlottedryerventlady.com to learn more.

The most common appliance maintenance issue often overlooked by homeowners is the clothes dryer

Fort Mill, SC - At a recent workshop for homeowners, Emilie Benvegna, owner of dryer vent wizard spoke about appliance maintenance, mainly, clothes dryers. "Over 15,000 dryer fires are reported annually; most of these fires are a result of improper maintenance. Your clothes dryer is more likely to start a fire than any other appliance in your home; yet, many consumers are not aware of the importance of annual dryer vent cleaning."

Emilie explained that the lint screen only catches about 60 percent of the lint removed from laundry. This means that nearly 40 percent becomes trapped in the dryer duct system.

Emilie said, "As lint builds up, air flow is restricted; therefore, heat and moisture are unable to escape the dryer drum. Clothes take longer to dry and your over-worked dryer is using excess energy. This is also a fire hazard."

Emilie purchased her Dryer Vent Wizard franchise in 2006 after seven years in the construction field industry. Emilie has found the career change rewarding as she educates her customers on the importance of proper dryer vent cleaning and maintenance.

Emilie's closing remarks really hit home for those who attended the workshop. "Your dryer vent system is also responsible for removing gas by-products from your home, if you have a gas dryer. When the ducts are clogged with lint-build up, it can cause carbon monoxide to vent into your home.

Dryer Vent Wizard recommends professional dryer vent cleaning annually. They also provide dryer vent repair, installation and inspections to be sure dryer vent systems meet current safety codes. Visit http://www.dryerventwizard.com to learn more.

When a dryer fire occurs in an apartment complex, a lot of lives are in danger and many people end up homeless, due to the negligence of one tenant

Charlotte, NC - Over 15,000 clothes dryer fires are reported annually; fires are most devastating when they occur in apartment buildings. Emilie Benvegna recently spoke at a real estate investor's association meeting where she displayed a model of a dryer vent system as she explained its function. She showed everyone how easily a fire could start in the dryer vent and how quickly it could spread throughout the apartment complex. Emilie explained, "Lint is highly combustible. When a dryer vent is clogged with lint, air-flow is restricted, causing overheating and eventually, a fire. This is especially devastating in an apartment building where many lives are at risk."

Emilie Benvegna, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard in Charlotte, North Carolina, explained the importance of proper maintenance to prevent dryer fires. "Professional dryer vent cleaning is recommended at least once a year. When tenants don't properly maintain their dryer vent systems, the landlord or property manager is liable for whatever happens. In large buildings, many lives are at risk, because of one negligent tenant," Emilie explained.

Dryer Vent Wizard specializes in dryer vent cleaning, repair, installation and alterations. They also provide an invaluable service to their community, educating each customer in dryer vent maintenance and dryer fire prevention. Emilie covers everything her customers need to know about proper cleaning and maintenance of their dryer vent system. "My job isn't complete until my customer understands how their dryer vent system works and how to maintain it between annual cleanings," Emilie said.

Emilie 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 inspection and necessary repairs is really small compared to potential damages, injuries and loss of lives if a dryer vent fire should occur," said Emilie. Read Emilie's blog at http://dryerventcleaningcharlottenc.blogspot.com/ for more tips and information on dryer vent maintenance.

The clothes dryer is a convenience most people refuse to be without and many take for granted. It seems to be the simplest appliance that rarely breaks down; it just keeps working. It may be slowing down over the years, but don't all clothes dryers eventually take an extra cycle to get the laundry dry? Sadly, this is misconception; many people think it is normal when an older dryer takes longer to dry a load of clothes.

The most common cause of a dryer cycle taking longer to complete is lint build-up in the dryer duct and vent system. The lint that escapes the trap should make it outside, but some gets trapped in the ductwork along the way. Eventually, it builds up and reduces the air flow needed by the dryer to properly dry the clothes. The duct system is responsible for removing the lint and moisture from the laundry as it dries. Without air flow, the hot moisture is trapped in the dryer drum with the wet laundry.

The Lint Screen

The lint screen catches most of the lint that is removed from your laundry and should be cleaned after each load. Notice as you pull it out that not all of the lint remains on the screen. Some is already dusted on the housing for the screen; some probably fell off way down in there. It will be forced down further as you replace the lint screen. It isn't much, but this much, each time you do a load of laundry, adds up.

Dryer Ducts and Dryer Vent

The dryer ducts and vent that leads to the outside of your home is designed to remove the heat and moisture from the dryer as the clothing dries. With sufficient air flow, a great deal of the lint that escaped the screen should float out through the vent as well; however, moist lint can easily stick to the sides of the ducts, especially if your duct system is very long or if it takes one or more turns on the way to the vent. Moist lint attracts more moist lint; it eventually builds up and clogs the vent, reducing air flow and increasing drying time.

Proper Maintenance

Keeping the lint screen clean after each load of laundry is only one small part of clothes dryer maintenance. A professional dryer vent cleaning specialist should inspect your dryer vent system and perform a thorough cleaning at least once a year. Dryer vent cleaning will make your clothes dryer run more efficiently, save on drying time and energy costs, reduce the chances of break-down, avoiding appliance repair bills and increase the life of your appliance. Most importantly, dryer vent cleaning will prevent a clothes dryer fire which is the ultimate result of lint build-up in a dryer vent system.

This article was written by Emilie Benvegna, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Charlotte, North Carolina. Emilie happily began her rewarding career in the dryer vent cleaning business in 2006. Her goal is to provide great customer service and educate consumers with tips to save energy and prevent fires with proper dryer maintenance. Dryer Vent Wizard services Charlotte, Concord, Huntersville, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Matthews, Pineville, Monroe, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Mooresville, Gastonia, Rock Hill, Cornelius, UpTown, SouthPark, Ballentine and neighboring cities and communities.