Options For Healthy Living

 

 

 

Dryer Vent Cleaning 

 

Are You One Laundry Day

Away From A  Disaster?   

 

The latest survey done by the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that clothes dryers were associated with 15,600 fires in the U.S. Fire can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct blocking air flow which in turn may cause excessive heat build-up and result in a fire in some dryers. There were 20 deaths and 370 injuries that resulted from these fires!  

 

 

 

 

 

DateLine NBC - Is Your Dryer a Fire Hazard? 

Dateline NBC's Lea Thompson reports on the

fire hazards posed by clothes dryers.

 

Click Here To Read This Report! 

 

Carbon Monoxide! The Silent Killer    WARNING! Natural Gas and Propane Fueled Dryers use the same vent to exhaust both lint and hazardous combustion fumes to the outdoors. When this vent is blocked deadly carbon monoxide may be released into your home!

    

Is It Time To Clean Your Dryer Vent?  

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Are your clothes taking longer than usual or more than one cycle to dry?

Are your clothes still damp or hotter than usual at the end of a cycle?

Do your clothes have a musty smell coming out of the dryer?

Do you see evidence of birds or other animals entering your outside vent? 

 

Is the outside vent opening plugged with lint or nesting materials?

 

Still Undecided?   $$$ Think Green! $$$      Properly Installed and Clean, Your Dryer Vent Will Allow Your Clothes to Dry Faster and This Reduces Energy Costs and Wear on Your Dryer Too!    Free Estimates Call Today!   724-356-7598   ronhampe@optionsforhealthyliving.com   PAOAGHIC  540

 

 

Preventing Dryer Fires!

 

• Have the dryer vent and exhaust duct cleaned periodically. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Remember to reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again.

   

• Replace plastic or foil accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow. The flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow.

   

• Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.

   

• Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer chassis periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter.

   

• Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains. If possible, wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and, preferably, hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle. To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket.

   

• Avoid using liquid fabric softener on all-cotton clothing made of fleece, terry cloth, or velour. Liquid fabric softener added to rinse water may accelerate the burning speed of these fabrics. Dryer sheets are the safer alternative. 
  

  1. Thoroughly read the dryer's manufacturer's instructions regarding installation & use!

  2. Dryer vents shall be independent of all other systems and terminate outdoors. Never vent the dryer into another chimney or other type of vent. The outside termination hood should also be equipped with a back draft damper.

3. The material used for the dryer duct should be either rigid or flexible metal or aluminum duct and must be the same size or larger than the outlet on your dryer. Never use vinyl! In the event of a fire, it will burn thru quickly.

4. Concealed ducts must be constructed with rigid galvanized metal or aluminum metal duct. Flexible metal connectors may be used to connect the dryer to this duct.

 

5. Duct joints shall be installed so the male end of the pipe points in the direction of the airflow (away from the dryer) and secured with metal tape. Do not use screws or rivets to secure the joints as these capture lint allowing it to build up faster inside of the duct!

6. Unless otherwise permitted by the dryer manufacturer, the total length of the dryer vent duct shall not exceed 25 feet. When calculating this length, deduct 2.5 feet for each 45 degree elbow and 5 feet for each 90 degree elbow.