When you are putting your home through the paces day in and day out, do you ever think about the impact you are having on the appliances in your home? Let's look at your clothes dryer. It is willing to work for you at any hour and generally does this without complaint. Likely the only time you really notice the things it does for you is when it breaks. But, if you are willing to take a little time to properly maintain it, you will be able to keep it humming along with no complaint a lot longer.
The Lint Trap
This seems like common sense, but you would be amazed how many people don't take care of the lint trap. This is the long screen that you can pull out of your dryer to remove the lint and dust that has been building up as the dryer dries your clothes. This should be cleaned before you start each and every load. It's easy to think 'what damage will a few loads do?" but the answer could be that it will cause problems you will have to pay big money to fix later. If too much lint accumulates in the screen it lower the efficiency of your dryer, and some of that lint will come loose and get clogged in other parts of the dryer vent system. Fabric softener sheets leave a residue on the lint screen, restricting air flow. This needs to be cleaned with soapy water every few months.
The Vent and Ducts
From the back of your dryer to the outside of your house is the dryer vent ducts and a vent outside where all the hot air coming out of your machine, as well as some of the lint, is sent out of your home. It is important that there are no clogs anywhere in this line or they could begin to muck up the whole system. You should have your vents and ducts checked out at least once a year by a professional. If you use the dryer a lot, you may want to do it twice.
Clothes dryers are by their nature very sturdy and hard working machines. But, even the best working machine can only do so much. With proper care and maintenance, you will be able to keep your clothes dryer working like a well-oiled machine for years to come.
This article was written by Charles Dillard, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Oak Park, Michigan. Find out more by visiting http://www.dryerventwizard.com Charles services consumers in the following areas of Oakland County: West Bloomfield, White Lake, Birmingham, Royal Oak, Troy, Lake Orion, Farmington Hills, South Lyon, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Waterford, Milford, Pontiac, Southfield, Oakland Township, Commerce Township, Clarkston, Novi, Beverly Hills, Livingston County, Hartland, Highland, Lake Angelus, Leonard, Ferndale, Brighton, Orchard Lake, Bingham Farms, Huntington Woods, Wixom, Oxford, Oak Park, Walled Lake, Keego Harbor, Lathrup Village and Howell
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