Dryer Vent Cleaning Good for your Dryer and your Clothes

Dryer vent cleaning prolongs the life of your clothes dryer. Dryer vent cleaning can also prolong the life of your clothes. Most importantly, dryer vent cleaning eliminates a dryer fire hazard. So, why clean dryer vents? Many reasons! The Wizard of Chicago recommends dryer vent cleaning at least once a year to promote maximum dryer performance.

You are folding your laundry and notice holes in your T-Shirts that were not there before! New clothes are ripped, sweaters are snagged and there are holes in your underwear! Or worse yet, clothes have a smoky smell when they should be clean. What is going on?

The smoky smell is easy to explain. You probably had a small lint fire inside the cabinet of your dryer. If this is the case, you’re very lucky it was a small fire. This is rare; most people who have fire caused by lint build-up experience more than just a small fire. Even though the lint filter catches most of the lint, some escapes to the cabinet and dryer ducts that lead to the vent outside. Lint is flammable and when it builds up it restricts air flow, causing overheating and eventually a fire.

This is not something to be taken lightly! Clothes dryers are the cause of over 15,000 fires annually; failure to properly clean and maintain dryer vent systems is the leading cause of dryer fires.

Some items are not meant to be put in the clothes dryer, like bath mats, rugs with rubber backing or some padded bras. These items should be air dried to prevent them from losing their shape. Also, be careful not to put items into the dryer if they are soaked or stained with motor oil, gasoline or other flammable products, even if they have been washed! Combustible residue can remain. It’s best that these items be air dried and not be stored near the clothes dryer.

You should have your dryer vent cleaned annually by a professional dryer vent cleaning and repair specialist. They do more than just clean the vents and cabinet in the dryer. A specialist will also inspect the system to be sure it meets building and safety codes and UL safety standards.

There are also parts of a dryer that can become worn and cause damage to clothing. These are not fire hazards, but still, it is frustrating to have your clean clothes come out of the dryer damaged. Felt-like seals in the dryer drum become worn and clothing can get caught in the gap and get damaged.

Another item to check is the lint filter; it could be worn and have sharp edges where clothing gets caught and tears. If this is the case, it is important to replace it since this is where most of the lint removed from your clothing is trapped. Holes in the lint filter allow more lint to escape in the vent system which can cause a fire.

When the glides, rollers, wheels or drum bearings become worn, there will be play in the dryer drum, causing it to be thrown off balance. Clothes can get pinched in between moving parts of the dryer causing damage.

Another cause of damage to clothing is over-drying. Try not to mix very heavy materials with lighter fabrics as different weights of fabric require different drying times. Prevent your clothes from coming out wrinkled by removing them immediately when the dryer stops rather than leaving them sit. Be sure to wash clothes in the correct water temperature and dry with the correct cycle. Most clothing has a label with care instructions printed on it; follow these instructions for the best results.

Proper dryer maintenance is the key to preventing fires and damage to clothing. A clogged dryer vent will cause your dryer to work harder and take more than one complete cycle to properly dry your clothes. Worn parts in the dryer can damage clothing. The service charge for a professional inspection and dryer vent cleaning is minimal compared to the possible damage caused to your dryer, your clothing, and your home in the event of a fire!

Mory Matias is the Wizard of Chicago. Dryer Vent Wizard provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, dryer vent installation and all dryer exhaust services for North Side Chicago and North Shore Suburbs, Cook and Lake Counties, Evanston, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Niles, Park Ridge, Morton Grove, Wilmette, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Northfield, Winnetka, Glencoe, Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Riverwoods, Highwood, Bannockburn, Lincolnshire, Fort Sheridan, Lake Forest and neighboring cities and communities.

60712, 60035, 60053, 60029, 60093, 60077, 60076, 60203, 60091, 60082, 60022, 60622, 60614, 60661, 60610, 60618, 60625, 60659, 60645, 60657, 60613, 60640, 60660, 60626, 60611, 60202, 60201, 60043, 60208, 60605, 60607, 60647, 60641, 60630, 60646, 60068, 60714, 60025, 60026, 60062, 60065, 60015, 60040, 60037, 60045, 60612, 60608, 60616, 60653, 60615, 60654

The Chicago Wizard is Ranting, Raving and Venting about Dryer Vent Cleaning in Wilmette

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.

• Vinyl or Plastic deteriorates, cracks and breaks
• The flexible foil type is easily crushed or bent, restricting air flow and trapping lint
• Excess venting material is often coiled or stuffed behind the dryer, trapping hot air, moisture and lint
• Use of incorrect venting materials can void the warranty on your dryer

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, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair and dryer vent installation for consumers and business owners in North Side Chicago and North Side Chicago and North Shore Suburbs, Cook and Lake Counties, Evanston, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Niles, Park Ridge, Morton Grove, Wilmette, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Northfield, Winnetka, Glencoe, Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Riverwoods, Highwood, Bannockburn, Lincolnshire, Fort Sheridan, Lake Forest and neighboring cities and communities.

60712, 60035, 60053, 60029, 60093, 60077, 60076, 60203, 60091, 60082, 60022, 60622, 60614, 60661, 60610, 60618, 60625, 60659, 60645, 60657, 60613, 60640, 60660, 60626, 60611, 60202, 60201, 60043, 60208, 60605, 60607, 60647, 60641, 60630, 60646, 60068, 60714, 60025, 60026, 60062, 60065, 60015, 60040, 60037, 60045, 60612, 60608, 60616, 60653, 60615, 60654

Dryer Vent Cleaning and Dryer Exhaust Issues in New Homes - Wilmette, Illinios

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/

Dryer Vent Wizard provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, dryer vent installation and all dryer exhaust services for North Side Chicago and North Shore Suburbs, Cook and Lake Counties, Evanston, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Niles, Park Ridge, Morton Grove, Wilmette, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Northfield, Winnetka, Glencoe, Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Riverwoods, Highwood, Bannockburn, Lincolnshire, Fort Sheridan, Lake Forest and neighboring cities and communities.

60712, 60035, 60053, 60029, 60093, 60077, 60076, 60203, 60091, 60082, 60022, 60622, 60614, 60661, 60610, 60618, 60625, 60659, 60645, 60657, 60613, 60640, 60660, 60626, 60611, 60202, 60201, 60043, 60208, 60605, 60607, 60647, 60641, 60630, 60646, 60068, 60714, 60025, 60026, 60062, 60065, 60015, 60040, 60037, 60045, 60612, 60608, 60616, 60653, 60615, 60654

Dryer Vent Cleaning and Energy Saving Tips from the Dryer Vent Wizard in Wilmette

Attention Residents with Clothes Dryers in Wilmette, Illinois

Your clothes dryer is among the top 5 energy consumers in your home. Here are some tips for saving energy when drying laundry. Whether your dryer is gas or electric, both operate the same, drying your laundry by heating and tumbling. Both require proper air flow to avoid over-working and to accomplish this task efficiently.

Dryer Vent Cleaning tips for Wilmette Consumers

Proper dryer vent cleaning and maintenance ensures proper air-flow, which is most vital to avoid overworking the clothes dryer and to prevent a potential fire hazard. When the dryer vent system is clogged with lint, it will obstruct air-flow, cause severe overheating, and eventually, a fire. Dryer vent cleaning, by a dryer vent specialist, is recommended at least once a year; more often if you have a large family.

Maintain the Lint Filter, says Dryer Vent Wizard of Wilmette, IL

Most everyone knows to clean the lint filter after every load; however, few are aware that the lint screen should be washed in warm, soapy water periodically. The use of fabric softener sheets, like Bounce, can cause a film to build up on the lint screen. This will restrict air flow needed for your dryer to work efficiently.

Do Full Loads – Don’t Over-load, as advised by Wilmette Dryer Vent Cleaning Company

Try to only do full loads of laundry; small loads waste a lot of energy that could be used for washing and drying a full load. Be careful not to over load as this will cause the washer and dryer to overwork; additional wear and tear leads to the expense of repairing and/or replacing your appliances.

Separate Light and Heavy Weights

Heavier items, such as jeans and towels naturally take longer to dry than lighter weight items like T-shirts. It has been suggested to dry the different weights separately, but you can also start them together, and stop the dryer to remove the lighter items that are dry, and then take advantage of the already heated drum to dry the rest. This way, you aren’t allowing a cool down between loads; you save the energy that would otherwise be used to heat the drum again.

About Dryer Sensors and Energy Saving Features on Newer Clothes Dryers

Clothes dryers have become more energy efficient as most new models have dryness sensors so that the dryer automatically moves on to the cool-down cycle or turns off when laundry is dry. The sensors prevent over-drying of clothes which prolongs the life of your clothing while saving energy.

Solar Drying is Free in Wilmette, Illinois

When the weather is right, hang laundry outdoors and let Mother Nature’s sun and breeze dry your laundry free. Clothes lines can be inconvenient for some, but even if you just hang a small amount, like sheets and towels, you will be saving energy.

Clothing Rods are Popular Money Savers in Wilmette, Illinois

Clothing rods are good for use indoors or outdoors. The clothing rod is a great money saver. You can dry your laundry for a short time, to remove wrinkles, remove your laundry when it is still damp and hang to finish drying.

Your clothes dryer is one of the top energy consumers in your home. Reducing the energy cost of doing laundry will help save money on utility bills. Proper appliance maintenance is also a major money saver, saving on utility bills, and appliance repair bills. A well maintained appliance will work more efficiently and have less risk of failure.


Please watch this video provided by Dryer Vent Wizard of Wilmette, Illinois

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26507771#26507771


Dryer Vent Wizard provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, dryer vent installation and all dryer exhaust services for North Side Chicago and North Shore Suburbs, Cook and Lake Counties, Evanston, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Niles, Park Ridge, Morton Grove, Wilmette, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Northfield, Winnetka, Glencoe, Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Riverwoods, Highwood, Bannockburn, Lincolnshire, Fort Sheridan, Lake Forest and neighboring cities and communities.

60712, 60035, 60053, 60029, 60093, 60077, 60076, 60203, 60091, 60082, 60022, 60622, 60614, 60661, 60610, 60618, 60625, 60659, 60645, 60657, 60613, 60640, 60660, 60626, 60611, 60202, 60201, 60043, 60208, 60605, 60607, 60647, 60641, 60630, 60646, 60068, 60714, 60025, 60026, 60062, 60065, 60015, 60040, 60037, 60045, 60612, 60608, 60616, 60653, 60615, 60654