When reminded of maintenance that needs to be done around the home many people are guilty of putting it off. This could be for a number of reasons, including being busy, distracted or overwhelmed. Maybe you're waiting for the next paycheck to hire it done or just procrastinating. One very important area to get into a good maintenance habit with is the clothes dryer. Of the 15,000, plus dryer fires that occur each year in the US, most of them can be prevented with proper dryer vent cleaning and maintenance.
Prevent a Home Fire
The biggest threat from a dryer is fire. Think of the heat generated to dry a load of clothes within an hour. This heat escapes from your home through dryer ducts and goes out the dryer vent, along with the lint that is being removed from clothing. Lint can stick to the sides of the duct work and accumulate, eventually restricting air-flow. Lint is combustible; sparks from the dryer can cause it to ignite. A professional dryer vent cleaning should be done at least once a year, by someone who specializes in dryer vent repairs and maintenance. They have special tools to do the job effectively.
Avoid Costly Repairs
Regular dryer vent cleaning and maintenance keeps the dryer running efficiently. The dryer has to work harder when lint is clogging the system, restricting air-flow. The longer the dryer is under this heavy workload, the more chance it has of breaking down or causing a fire. Proper dryer vent maintenance will prolong the life of your dryer. Annual inspections and professional dryer vent cleaning is a good idea to prevent mechanical breakdown to avoid costly repairs.
Save Energy
Many people think it is normal, especially for older dryers, to take more than one cycle to dry a load of clothes. The common cause of this problem is not mechanical; it is due to not properly maintaining the dryer vent. Lint has most likely built up, restricting air-flow and causing the dryer to work harder and accomplish less. A good dryer vent cleaning by a professional will take care of this.
Proper dryer vent cleaning and maintenance prevents dryer fires, saves money on energy bills and helps to prevent mechanical break down to avoid costly repair bills.
This article was written by Chris Wiley, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard in Maricopa County, Arizona. http://www.dryerventwizard.com specializes in dryer vent cleaning, repair and alterations, and serves consumers in Dryer Vent Wizard services Maricopa County, Arizona including Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Desert Hills, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Goodyear, Gilbert, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Circle City, Mesa, New river, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Temple, Tolleson, Wittmann, Youngtown 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.
Dryer Vent Wizard services Maricopa County, Arizona including Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Desert Hills, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Goodyear, Gilbert, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Circle City, Mesa, New river, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Temple, Tolleson, Wittmann, Youngtown and neighboring cities and communities.
DVW is more than a dryer vent cleaning service; they also promote fire safety awareness, educating customers about dryer vent maintenance and fire prevention
Murrieta, CA - Greg Longe, co-president of Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW), Dry Clothes, Safe Homes, announced the awarding of a DVW franchise in Arizona. Chris Wiley will service Maricopa County.
Dryer Vent Wizard, Dry Clothes, Safe Homes is a national franchise company specializing in dryer fire prevention and "urgent response" dryer vent cleaning and dryer vent maintenance, repair, replacement and alterations. "I make sure all my customers understand the importance of dryer vent maintenance before my job is complete," said Chris Wiley.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration "failure to clean" was cited as the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. Similar reports by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), confirm annual maintenance of dryers and dryer vents as a home safety issue lacking consumer awareness. Dryer Vent Wizard, Dry Clothes, Safe Homes provides "urgent response" solutions to the problem of dryers functioning inefficiently or not at all.
Founded in 2004 by David Lavalle in Boston, Massachusetts the company has awarded 50 franchises in major metro markets since franchising began in March 2005.
Chris urges consumers to schedule and inspection and dryer vent cleaning by a professional who can correct problems now to ensure safety and prevent a clothes dryer fire. http://www.dryerventwizard.com services Maricopa County, Arizona including Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Desert Hills, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Goodyear, Gilbert, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Circle City, Mesa, New river, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Temple, Tolleson, Wittmann, Youngtown and neighboring cities and communities.
Reports show the average home spends $1900 a year on energy costs; many homeowners are unaware of how much they can save with proper dryer and dryer vent maintenance
Glendale, AZ-Chris Wiley is the owner of Dryer Vent Wizard in Maricopa County, Arizona. He was interviewed recently and he said it is his policy that all technicians who work for him help to educate consumers on dryer fire safety. "The job is not complete until each customer understands their dryer vent system, how it works, and how to properly maintain it between annual professional cleaning and repair," said Chris. "Home owners who think its normal for their dryer to take more than one cycle to dry clothes are in danger of starting a fire due to clogged dryer vents" Chris advises his customers that lint accumulation in the dryer vent system will cause the dryer to over heat and to run inefficiently, causing fires and increasing energy usage.
Dryer Vent Wizard, Dry Clothes, Safe Homes is the largest chain of dryer vent specialists in the U.S. Besides specializing in dryer vent maintenance, they also provide free videos, brochures and tips for consumers who visit their site at http://www.dryerventwizard.com
Chris explained, "With rising energy costs, our role is to educate consumers as we provide dryer vent cleaning and repair services. I get emails and phone calls all the time from customers who appreciate our concern for their safety."
Chris urges consumers to have their dryer vent systems cleaned annually and to be sure they meet city, state and manufacturer codes. Plastic or foil vents need to be replaced with semi-rigid or solid metal venting. Anyone who lives in an older home, or is not sure if their dryer vent system is up to code should have an inspection done right away. "The cost of an inspection is much less than the cost of damages caused by a fire, not to mention the value of lives that are saved by taking safety measures in the home," said Chris.
Dryer Vent Wizard services Maricopa County, Arizona including Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Desert Hills, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Goodyear, Gilbert, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Circle City, Mesa, New river, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Temple, Tolleson, Wittmann, Youngtown and neighboring cities and communities.
In America, there are over 15,000 dyer fires a year. Failure to complete routine maintenance and inspections is a leading contributor in dryer fires across the nation.
Dryer vents clogged with dust, fiber, and lint are responsible for nearly 30% of all dryer fires, making it a top contributor to dryer fires. To reduce this risk, clean lint screens and traps before and after every use. Carefully wash lint screens with soap and water at least once a month to remove residue buildup from dryer sheets. Also, be sure your dryer vent system is up to code according to city, state, and manufacturer recommendations. Replace foil or plastic vents with vent made from semi-rigid or solid metal material. Check the path of the dryer vent. Be sure it is as straight and short as possible. This helps prevent buildup at the elbows of vent systems. Check out the outside hood of the venting system. Make sure it is free from blockages, freezing, or other damages. In addition to these actions, have the vent system and your dryer professionally inspected and cleaned seasonally.
To enhance dryer fire prevention methods, be sure to keep a working fire extinguisher that is designed for use in laundry rooms near the washer and dryer. Test and replace the batteries on all smoke detectors frequently. Do not store flammable or combustible materials near the dryer and refrain from drying clothing covered in such materials. Develop a fire safety/emergency plan for the family and rehearse it often.
Warning signs of Failing Ventilation or Lint Buildup:
•· Clothes take more than one cycle to dry, especially jeans and towels.
•· There is no lint visible on lint screen.
•· Dryer repeatedly stops during a cycle.
•· Clothes have a moldy smell after a dry cycle.
•· Clothes are very hot after a dry cycle.
This article was written by Chris Wiley, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard in Maricopa County, Arizona. http://www.dryerventwizard.com specializes in dryer vent cleaning, repair and alterations, and serves consumers in Dryer Vent Wizard services Maricopa County, Arizona including Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Desert Hills, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Goodyear, Gilbert, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Circle City, Mesa, New River, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Temple, Tolleson, Wittman, Youngtown and neighboring cities and communities.
Clean the Lint Filter and Everywhere else Lint Lurks
When you do your spring cleaning, there's no doubt one of the rooms you clean is your laundry room. If you're really ambitious you may pull the washer and dryer out and sweep around them, get any gunk from dripped soap off the surface of them and even dig out all those single socks that have fallen behind the dryer. You may, however, totally overlook the dryer lint filter, thinking you clean it out every time you do a load. But, you may be surprised at how much you are not cleaning.
Just pulling the lint filter out and peeling that layer of lint build-up off is not enough to call your lint filter really clean. Think about it. When you have a stuffed filter, do you really think it is grabbing every piece of lint? You have likely seen a little lint stuck to the side after you've pulled the filter out, or even some that has fallen off the filter and back inside. Where do you think that's going? I'll give you a clue. It's not going to magically jump on the lint filter for the next cleaning.
There is often a build up of lint in and around the lint filter. While it may just seem like a little here and there, it all adds up and can mean a lot of lint clogging up the system inside your machine. That means money you are spending on energy needed to extend drying time of clothes that are taking 2 or 3 cycles to dry.
Filter Cleaning
Once you have peeled the obvious lint off the filter, take a good look at it. Are there any holes or rips? If so, you need a new one. There may be residue build-up on it from dryer sheets. This is easily removed by washing gently with warm, soapy water.
Behind the Filter
While you have the filter out of the dryer, it's time to clean the areas around it. That whole space where your lint filter fits is probably lined with a bit of lint itself. You can purchase a lint brush that has a long, hose-like handle to clean some of this out, or even use a shop vac or the nozzle attachment on a regular vacuum to remove some of the lint and dust that has piled up inside.
If you notice there is a lot of lint coming out from behind the filter, you may need to take a little more action to really clean things up. Consider having your dryer vents professionally cleaned and inspected. The more any of these areas clog up, the less efficient your dryer will be and the more expensive your utility bills will be. Of course, lint is flammable and it's a dangerous fire hazard.
This article was written by Chris Wiley, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard in Maricopa County, Arizona. http://www.dryerventwizard.com serves consumers in Dryer Vent Wizard services Maricopa County, Arizona including Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Desert Hills, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Goodyear, Gilbert, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Circle City, Mesa, New river, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Temple, Tolleson, Wittman and Youngtown.
One night at just after 8pm a fire broke out in North Londonderry. Located in the tight nit community of Bockman's Mobile Home Park, a neighbor saw flames coming from a drier vent and he called the fire department. According to neighbors, the home owner had "Left the dryer going when he went off for a bit, when he came back, the firemen were hard at work." Lorraine Cookson told Londonderry Hometown Online News, "He has two dogs, one was with him and the other was in the home. Soon after the Londonderry Fire Department arrived at 8:09 they brought the dog out of the home that was on fire with a muzzle in what appeared to be a way to keep it from harming the men." Neighbors report that one of the rescuers may have been bitten, we have no conformation of that at this time.
The cause may have been the "Pigtail" connection on a new dryer shorting out and causing the what could have been a tragic fire. The actual cause is under investigation at this time. Quick acting neighbors and the professional fire fighters of Londonderry can be thanked for preventing what could have been a tragic fire.
Dryer Vent Wizard of Maricopa County, Arizona hopes to prevent this from happening to anyone in their community. They advise consumers to have their dryer vent systems inspected and professionally cleaned at least once a year. See http://www.dryerventwizard.com for more information and fire safety tips
Dryer Vent Wizard services Maricopa County, Arizona including Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Desert Hills, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Goodyear, Gilbert, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Circle City, Mesa, New river, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Temple, Tolleson, Wittman and Youngtown.
The National Fire Prevention Association reports over 15,000 clothes dryer fires annually; most of them could have been prevented with proper dryer vent maintenance. There are many warning signs that indicate a possible fire hazard:
Clothes taking several cycles to dry: A lot of people think this just means the dryer is old or the heat element is wearing out. This is rarely the case. There is usually an air flow problem caused by the vent being obstructed with lint build up
Clothes smell moldy or they are unusually hot when they come out of the dryer
No visible lint on the lint screen
Dryer repeatedly stops during a cycle
All of these symptoms indicate a venting problem with your clothes dryer. You need to disconnect, clean and inspect the dryer vent tubing regularly, or hire a professional dryer vent cleaning specialist to do the job. This will greatly reduce the risk of fire and increase the dryer's efficiency, saving on energy costs and increasing the life of the dryer.
Tips to keeping the dryer vents lint free:
Use a vacuum to remove lint that accumulates under the lint trap on a regular basis
Check outside, when the dryer is running, to be sure the lint and heat is escaping
Have a qualified service technician inspect and professionally clean the dryer vent yearly
Clean the lint trap after each load of laundry
Wash the lint trap with warm soapy water every few months to remove residue from dryer sheets and fabric softeners
It is also important that the dryer vent be properly installed and be of rigid material. It should not be the crushable, foil type material people have commonly used in the past. It should be installed as straight as possible, with few turns and bends, and be as short a possible. If there are several pieces joined together, they should be done so that the inside of the vent is smooth, with no screws for lint to catch on and accumulate.
Other safety tips include:
Never leave the house or go to sleep when the clothes dryer is running
Avoid drying items that have been soaked with combustible chemicals
Avoid storing combustible chemicals, cleaning products or chemical laden rags near the clothes dryer
Be sure the outside vent cover is not blocked (or frozen shut in the winter)
Have your system inspected by a qualified professional to be sure it meets city, state and manufacturers codes
A five year old child can easily and safely operate a clothes dryer, however, an adult needs to be sure it is properly maintained and fire safe. Fire prevention and safety begins at home; go to http://www.dryerventwizard.com/ventcheck_request.htm for a free dryer vent safety check kit. Tell your friends, loved ones, and neighbors, especially if you live in an apartment building, to do the same.
This article was written by The Dryer Vent Wizard, who wants all consumers to be aware of how dangerous their seemingly innocent clothes dryer can be. The Wizard provides more fire safety tips and easy, preventative measures for preventing a clothes dryer fire at http://www.dryerventwizard.com
The National Fire Prevention Association reports over 15,000 clothes dryer fires annually; most of them could have been prevented with proper dryer vent maintenance. There are many warning signs that indicate a possible fire hazard:
Clothes taking several cycles to dry: A lot of people think this just means the dryer is old or the heat element is wearing out. This is rarely the case. There is usually an air flow problem caused by the vent being obstructed with lint build up
Clothes smell moldy or they are unusually hot when they come out of the dryer
No visible lint on the lint screen
Dryer repeatedly stops during a cycle
All of these symptoms indicate a venting problem with your clothes dryer. You need to disconnect, clean and inspect the dryer vent tubing regularly, or hire a professional dryer vent cleaning specialist to do the job. This will greatly reduce the risk of fire and increase the dryer's efficiency, saving on energy costs and increasing the life of the dryer.
Tips to keeping the dryer vents lint free:
Use a vacuum to remove lint that accumulates under the lint trap on a regular basis
Check outside, when the dryer is running, to be sure the lint and heat is escaping
Have a qualified service technician inspect and professionally clean the dryer vent yearly
Clean the lint trap after each load of laundry
Wash the lint trap with warm soapy water every few months to remove residue from dryer sheets and fabric softeners
It is also important that the dryer vent be properly installed and be of rigid material. It should not be the crushable, foil type material people have commonly used in the past. It should be installed as straight as possible, with few turns and bends, and be as short a possible. If there are several pieces joined together, they should be done so that the inside of the vent is smooth, with no screws for lint to catch on and accumulate.
Other safety tips include:
Never leave the house or go to sleep when the clothes dryer is running
Avoid drying items that have been soaked with combustible chemicals
Avoid storing combustible chemicals, cleaning products or chemical laden rags near the clothes dryer
Be sure the outside vent cover is not blocked (or frozen shut in the winter)
Have your system inspected by a qualified professional to be sure it meets city, state and manufacturers codes
A five year old child can easily and safely operate a clothes dryer, however, an adult needs to be sure it is properly maintained and fire safe. Fire prevention and safety begins at home; go to http://www.dryerventwizard.com/ventcheck_request.htm for a free dryer vent safety check kit. Tell your friends, loved ones, and neighbors, especially if you live in an apartment building, to do the same.
This article was written by The Dryer Vent Wizard, who wants all consumers to be aware of how dangerous their seemingly innocent clothes dryer can be. The Wizard provides more fire safety tips and easy, preventative measures for preventing a clothes dryer fire at http://www.dryerventwizard.com
Dryer Vent Wizard services Maricopa County, Arizona including Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Desert Hills, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Goodyear, Gilbert, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Circle City, Mesa, New river, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Temple, Tolleson, Wittman and Youngtown.
Dryer vent safety check kits are used by community groups to create awareness of dryer vent safety
Phoenix, AZ--Clothes dryers are reported as being a major cause of house fires, costing millions of dollars in damages, deaths and injuries, each year. In the United States, it is a law that all gas dryers must be vented to the outdoors. Dryer Vent Wizard advises consumers to have their dryer vent systems professionally inspected to be sure they meet the codes of cities, states and manufacturers.
Greg Longe and his partner, John Lynch franchise Dryer Vent Wizard, dry Clothes, Safe Homes, a nationwide chain of dryer vent cleaning, repair, replacement and alteration specialists in the U.S. They are working to increase consumer awareness of proper ventilation for clothes dryers.
Dryer Vent Wizard advises dryer vents should be as short and straight as possible with few elbows. The more bends and turns, the greater the reduction in air flow there is, causing lint to accumulate and cause clogs, which can lead to fires. Dryer vent problems also cause problems with the efficiency of dryers. "Many people think it is normal for a dryer to take two to three cycles to get clothing completely dry," says Greg Longe. Greg advises consumers to check for dryer venting problems by removing the vent line from the dryer and doing a load or two. If drying time improves, chances are the vent is at least part of the problem.
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. Free dryer vent safety check kits are available at http://www.dryerventwizard.com/ventcheck_request.htm
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 nearly 50 franchisees in major markets in the U.S.
Dryer Vent Wizard services Maricopa County, Arizona including Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Desert Hills, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Goodyear, Gilbert, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Circle City, Mesa, New river, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Temple, Tolleson, Wittman and Youngtown.
Mar. 24--A fire in a laundry room early Thursday morning demonstrates the importance of having properly working smoke detectors in the home, the Yuma Fire Department says.
The 4 a.m. fire in the home at 2862 S. 18th Ave. set off a smoke detector that awakened the residents, who then began fighting flames and meanwhile called the Yuma Fire Department.
Firefighters extinguished the fire before it could spread beyond the laundry room. There were no injuries. "It's just a good example of how (smoke detectors) save lives and protect property," said Mike Erfert, public information officer for the fire department.
Smoke detectors are "very cheap insurance" for the homeowner, he added. "The only drawback is that you need to continue to check them periodically."
Fire investigators determined that the fire originated from lint buildup in the filter and exhaust vent of a dryer in laundry room, according to a fire department news release.
Erfert said residents should keep dryers free of lint, but should also keep in mind that the typical household laundry room contains a number of different potential fire hazards.
Hot water heaters, often found in laundry rooms, can be a source of fire, he said, while flammable cleaning solvents or flammable cloth or clothing can feed the flames.
The fire department says kitchens also contain multiple fire ignition sources, among them ovens, stoves and electrical sources
Don't let this be your story. Visit http://www.dryerventwizard.com to get a free dryer vent safety took kit and other valuable information provided on the site.
Dryer Vent Wizard services Maricopa County, Arizona including Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Desert Hills, El Mirage, Fountain Hills, Goodyear, Gilbert, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Circle City, Mesa, New river, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Temple, Tolleson, Wittman and Youngtown.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Reports show the average home spends $1900 a year on energy costs; many homeowners are unaware of how much they can save with proper dryer and dryer vent maintenance
In America, there are over 15,000 dyer fires a year. Failure to complete routine maintenance and inspections is a leading contributor in dryer fires across the nation.
Dryer vent safety check kits are used by community groups to create awareness of dryer vent safety
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