Emilie Benvegna

When you're doing your annual spring cleaning, and you pull out the washer and dryer to sweep behind it and retrieve socks and other items that have fallen back there, do you also see a lot of lint and dust? Where does it all come from? I thought all the lint was caught by the lint screen which I clean after each load of laundry! Well, if there is a large pile of lint behind the dryer, think how much could be built-up and trapped in the dryer ducts that should have went outdoors through the dryer vent.

Cleaning the lint screen after each load of laundry is very important, but it is just a start. Some lint escapes the screen and goes out through the dryer ducts and vent. Unfortunately, some of the lint does not make it all the way outdoors; it becomes trapped in the dryer ducts where it eventually builds up and causes problems with air-flow which is necessary for the dryer to function properly.

The dryer vent system removes heat, moisture and lint from your clothing and vents it outdoors. Some dryer vent systems are very efficient; however, all can become trapped with lint build-up over time. As moist lint sticks to the sides of your dryer duct, more lint is attracted to this area and it builds up. As the lint dries, it forms a hard crust; therefore, it becomes trapped here, and reduces air flow. The reduced air flow just allows more lint to build up; without proper air flow, the lint will not be able to travel the entire length of your duct to the vent outdoors.

As lint continues to build up and air flow is restricted, heat and moisture cannot escape from the dryer drum. This is the reason your dryer can be taking two or three cycles to properly dry a load of clothes. The dryer is working much harder to complete its task; therefore, using more energy. When an appliance is overworked, it is most likely to break down. In the case of extreme lint build-up, you will be lucky if your only problem is a broken-down clothes dryer.

Lint is highly flammable; if a dryer continues to operate when the ducts are clogged with lint, it can start a fire that will burn very hot and spread very quickly. You can get special equipment for cleaning out your dryer duct system, or have a professional come in once a year to do a good cleaning. The service fee for dryer vent cleaning is minimal compared to the cost of your home and all you could lose in a fire. A clean dryer vent system will allow the clothes dryer to operate more efficiently, without being overworked; therefore you will save on energy bills and avoid expensive appliance repair bills.

This article was written by Emilie Benvegna, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Charlotte, North Carolina. With years of experience in the construction industry, Emilie and her husband, Jim provides dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation services. They also take great pride in educating all their customers on dryer vent safety and proper maintenance to save energy and prevent fires. 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.

What is "going green"? Going green is a phrase referring to the individual action that a person can consciously take to curb harmful effects on the environment and save on energy consumption. Taking steps to conserve energy in the laundry room will save you money and prolong the life of your appliances.

The Green Clothes Dryer

The greenest of clothes dryers, of course, is the clothesline! Automatic dryers have been hailed as a miracle of modern housekeeping, but it came with a price; about 6% of the total energy used by Americans. Mother Nature provides the sun and breeze; this is free for us to use and it provides the fresh smell that people pay for in artificial products they purchase.

There are many positive benefits to using a clothesline; however, for most people, it just isn't an option that will be considered over the convenience of the automatic clothes dryer. There are steps you can take to reduce the negative impact that clothes dryers have on the environment and your energy bills.

Lint is not GREEN!

The number one tip to operating a clothes dryer ‘in the green' is to keep the lint filter clean. A clogged lint filter restricts air flow required to dry laundry, therefore, taking longer to dry each load and using up to 30% more energy!

Overloading

Drying only a few items at a time is inefficient and a waste of energy as the clothes dryer is made to dry a full load at a time. This does not mean overloading will be even more efficient though; overloading will reduce the amount of air needed to circulate and dry the laundry.

Proper Loading

Separate heavier weight items from lighter weight items before drying. This will avoid wasting energy over-drying the lighter weight items, while the dryer continues to run to finish drying the heavier items.

Automatic Cycles

Dryers are made more efficiently today, with automatic drying and cool down cycles. The auto-dry cycle stops the dryer when clothes are dry. The cool down cycle completes drying time with the remaining heat in the dryer to save energy. Both cycles prevent over-drying and clothes last longer.

Consecutive Loads

Time it so that you are doing one load after another; this will allow you to take advantage of the heat left in the dryer when you remove a load. Otherwise, the dryer is allowed to cool down completely between loads, making it work that much harder to heat up again.

Ventilation

When possible, open a window in the laundry room while the dryer is operating, to allow heat and humidity to escape. A closed up laundry area can become very humid, decreasing the efficiency of your clothes dryer.

Maintenance

Proper maintenance extends the life of your appliances and makes them operate more efficiently to save energy. Dryer vent and duct cleaning are important to maintain proper air flow and prevent the clothes dryer from overworking. Most importantly, dryer vent cleaning helps to prevent clothes dryer fires, which currently happen at a rate of about 15,000 per year.

A clothes dryer is a modern convenience that many of us refuse to be without. The price of energy consumed by clothes dryers is high, but there are steps one can take to reduce the cost. By taking the necessary steps to conserve energy in the laundry room, you will be rewarded with lower energy bills, your dryer will last longer, and so will your clothing. You will also be preventing the disaster of a clothes dryer fire where you could lose everything. A professional who specializes in clothes dryer vent systems will make sure your system is up to code and free from lint buildup.

This article was written by Emilie Benvegna, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Charlotte, North Carolina. With years of experience in the construction industry, Emilie began a rewarding career in the dryer vent cleaning and repair business. Emilie works to promote public awareness of dryer vent cleaning to prevent fires and save on energy costs, by educating each of her customers on properly maintaining their dryer vent system. 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.

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

•· http://www.dryerventwizard.com

Contact:

Dryer Vent Wizard of Greater Charlotte, NC

Emilie Benvegna

Phone: 704-886-7078

Email: jelbenvegna@dryerventwizard.com

Service area: Charlotte, Concord, Huntersville, Waxhaw, Weddington, Matthews, Pineville, Monroe, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Mooresville, Gastonia, Rock Hill, Cornelius, UpTown, SouthPark, Ballentine and neighboring cities and communities.

"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

Charlotte, NC -- According to the US Fire Administration, dryer fires account for an average of $15,000 dryer fires annually. Emilie Benvegna, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Charlotte, North Carolina said, "Failure to properly maintain dryer vents is a major contributor to clothes dryer fires." Emilie is franchise owner/operator of Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW), Dry Clothes, Safe Homes. She began her business in 2006. "This career change has been most rewarding for me," said Emilie. "I like that I'm giving back to the community and educating consumers on dryer fire prevention while I work."

Emilie was recently interviewed and she explained how Dryer Vent Wizard 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. She offered tips like checking the lint screen before each load and cleaning it after each load to help prevent lint build-up in the dryer vent system. "There's much more to maintaining the dryer vent system than just cleaning the lint screen," Emilie explained. "A lot of the lint escapes the filter and ends up stuck to the inside of the vent, causing air-flow restriction, overheating and eventually, a fire."

Emilie makes sure her customers understand the warning signs to look for, including clothes taking more than one cycle to dry, especially jeans and towels, 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. "I'm so glad I called Emilie when my clothes dryer wasn't working properly," said a happy customer. "She showed me where the problem was and explained how easily a fire could have started. I have three pre-school aged children; a fire would have been devastating!"

Prior to becoming a Dryer Vent Wizard franchisee, Emilie spent 7 years in the construction industry. She holds a degree in business management, has two children and a supporting husband and partner, Jim Benvegna.

Emilie urges consumers to have their dryer vent systems professionally inspected and cleaned at least one per year, depending on the amount of use. She offers valuable tips and information on her website at http://www.charlottedryerventlady.com Emilie services consumers in Charlotte, Concord, Huntersville, Waxhaw, Weddington, Matthews, Pineville, Monroe, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Mooresville, Gastonia, Rock Hill, Cornelius, UpTown, SouthPark, Ballentine and neighboring cities and communities.

Contact:

Dryer Vent Wizard of Greater Charlotte, NC

Emilie Benvegna

1229 Raymond Creeks Drive

China Grove, NC 28023

Phone: 704-886-7078

Email: jelbenvegna@dryerventwizard.com

Dryer Vent Cleaning, Dryer Vent Repair, Dryer Vent Maintenance, Dryer Vent Installation, Dryer Vent Alteration

99 out of 100 clothes dryers have a problem with air flow and lint build up which can cause a dryer to run inefficiently and eventually, lead to a fire

Charlotte, NC -- Dryer Vent Wizard, Dry Clothes, Safe Homes has noticed the biggest safety hazard in clothes dryers are the vents running from the back of the dryer to the outside of the home. Emilie Benvegna, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard in Charlotte, North Carolina, recalls an issue in an apartment complex where roof was recently replaced and the vent was completely obstructed. Thankfully, she was called with a complaint that a tenant's dryer was taking several cycles to dry clothes. The tenant said, "My washer and dryer are only a couple years old and the dryer was working fine until I moved here. I'm so happy that I called Dryer Vent Wizard. Emilie explained the problem to me and I just can't put into words how relieved I am that a potential fire hazard has been fixed."

Emilie performs a thorough inspection of a dryer vent system and corrects problems before they become dangerous. There are at least 10 factors to look at when checking a clothes dryer for safety, including vents, airflow and the amount of lint on the floor behind the dryer. When customers complain about dryers taking too long to get clothes dry, this is a big red flag, indicating a probable venting problem. Many people think it is normal for older dryers to take longer to dry their clothes. Emilie makes sure her customers understand that this is a myth.

Dryer vents should be checked by a professional annually to be sure there are no clogs the system is in good working order. Larger homes have longer vents making it more difficult for homeowners to access all parts of the vent for cleaning. Dryer Vent Wizard has special equipment for accessing and cleaning all parts of the dryer vent system.

Fire prevention and safety begins at home; go to http://www.charlottedryerventlady.com for more information. Tell your friends, loved ones, and neighbors, especially if you live in an apartment building, or attached condos to do the same. Your life could be in the hands of your neighbors.

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. Emilie services consumers in Charlotte, Concord, Huntersville, Waxhaw, Weddington, Matthews, Pineville, Monroe, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Mooresville, Gastonia, Rock Hill, Cornelius, UpTown, SouthPark, Ballentine and neighboring cities and communities.

Contact:

Dryer Vent Wizard of Greater Charlotte, NC

Emilie Benvegna

1229 Raymond Creeks Drive

China Grove, NC 28023

Phone: 704-886-7078

Email: jelbenvegna@dryerventwizard.com

Dryer Vent Cleaning, Dryer Vent Repair, Dryer Vent Maintenance, Dryer Vent Installation, Dryer Vent Alteration