Dryer Vent Cleaning Sonoma County, California 707.326.7171

Clean Dryer Vents, Prevent Dryer Fires Says the Wizard of Sonoma County

2009-11-23T10:03:00.000-08:00

Dryer vent cleaning Sonoma County: Dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation companies are easily found on the internet. With so many dryer vent cleaning companies out there we should see a dramatic reduction in the number of dryer related fires that occur each year.

Over 15,000 clothes dryer fires are reported each year, causing major damage to homes, loss of lives and many injuries. Most of these fires were caused by failure to clean dryer vents.

The internet is flooded with articles and blogs all warning consumers about the danger of clogged dryer vents; not to mention the increase in utility expenses when clothes dryers are not venting properly.

So Many Dryer Vent Cleaners; Yet, So Many Dryer Vent fires

Las Vegas, NV: A woman suffered from smoke inhalation when the clothes dryer caught fire in her home. One other adult and three children escaped safely. It could have been much worse! The fire was caused by a clogged dryer vent system. The fire only took a few minutes to get under control; the dryer was destroyed with minor damage to the home.

Cedar Rapids, IA: Firefighters were called to a restaurant just after 12:30 in the morning. Smoke was coming from the back of the building when they arrived. When they entered, they discovered a dryer on fire. Damage was minimal; the wall near the dryer was damaged and there was slight smoke damage in the kitchen.

Danbury, CT: Fire officials found burned clothing in the clothes dryer; a possible indication that the dryer was the cause of a recent fire that caused extensive heat and smoke damage to a condo. Residents were not at home; two pet parakeets were killed.

Odin, MN: An early morning fire started in the laundry room of an apartment building where a mother and her young children were able to escape without injury. The fire was small and burned itself out by the time firemen arrived.

Johnstown, PA: A 16-year old girl was killed when items near a gas dryer caught fire which quickly spread throughout the home. Firefighters tried, but were unable to get to her before she died of smoke inhalation. The cause was possibly a faulty shutoff valve on the gas line to the dryer. The Red Cross is helping the family of seven who recently moved into the home.

Dryer fires are caused by a combination of heat and blockage of air flow. If there is a lint build-up in the system then you have the combustibles needed to start a fire.

The National Fire Prevention Association and dryer manufacturers recommend annual dryer vent cleaning to reduce the risk of fire and make sure your dryer is operating efficiently. When dryers start taking longer to dry each load, this usually means there is an air-flow blockage and a fire hazard. The dryer works harder, using more energy. If the problem is ignored, the dryer will eventually stop working or cause a fire.

Rhonda Nole, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, dryer vent installation, dryer vent inspections and all dryer vent services for homes and businesses in Sonoma County, Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Kenwood, Windsor, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Sonoma, Guerneville, Graton, Napa County, Calistoga, Angwin, Deer Park, St. Helena, Yountville, Napa, American Canyon, Marin County, San Rafael, Tiburon, Greenbrae, Larkspur, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Kentfield and neighboring cities and communities.

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Clean Lint from Dryer Vents and Save $300 per year on Energy Bills says the Wizard of Sonoma County

2009-10-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

Dryer Vent Cleaning Sonoma County: Dryer vent cleaning is the fix for most things that can go wrong with your clothes dryer. Airflow is the most important thing your dryer needs in order to operate properly. Think about it; the heat and moisture from your dryer drum has to go somewhere as your clothes dry. If there is a blockage in the dryer vent system the heat and moisture are trapped in the drum or somewhere in the exhaust duct.

Professional dryer vent cleaning is the number one way to properly maintain your clothes dryer. In addition, the lint screen should be cleaned after every load of laundry. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets can cause a residue to build up over time; the lint screen should be cleaned with hot, soapy water every few months to prevent air-flow blockage.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

The most common problem found when a clothes dryer isn’t operating properly is lint build-up in the dryer duct. Not only is this a fire hazard; it also causes your dryer to work harder and use more energy. A clogged dryer vent can increase your utility bills by up to $300 per year.

Many dryers have longer ducts with places that are difficult for the average homeowner to get to. A professional has the tools required to do the job efficiently.

Inside the Dryer

Lint also builds up inside the dryer, in the slot for the removable lint filter, the vents on the back panel, around the motor, drum, pulleys and other essential parts of your dryer. A dryer vent cleaning professional has special tools to get to all the areas where lint gets trapped.

It is important that your dryer exhaust system is properly installed and that the right materials are used. Older systems use vinyl, plastic or flexible foil for the exhaust duct; studies have proven this to be unsafe. A professional inspection is recommended to be sure your system is safe.

Manufacturers suggest having a professional provide dryer vent cleaning and maintenance at least once a year to be sure your dryer is operating safely and efficiently.

Dryer Vent Cleaning is the most important maintenance you can do for your dryer. Poor maintenance causes the dryer to overwork putting undue stress on the motor, bearings, belts and other parts of your dryer. Failure to properly maintain your dryer exhaust ducts will eventually result in a fire.

Rhonda Nole, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, dryer vent installation, dryer vent inspections and all dryer vent services for homes and businesses in Sonoma County, Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Kenwood, Windsor, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Sonoma, Guerneville, Graton, Napa County, Calistoga, Angwin, Deer Park, St. Helena, Yountville, Napa, American Canyon, Marin County, San Rafael, Tiburon, Greenbrae, Larkspur, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Kentfield and neighboring cities and communities.

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The San Anselmo, Ca Wizard Answers the Qeustion: How Often Should Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning be done?

2009-03-08T13:24:00.001-07:00

Dryer Vent Cleaning Sonoma County: You know you need to make sure you get the proper maintenance done on your dryer, but you may have a tough time deciding how often to do what you can yourself and how often you should call in a professional to do the rest. Here are a few things to consider that will help in making a responsible decision:

How old is the dryer?

The age of your clothes dryer is something you really need to consider. The older the dryer is, the more likely there is lint clogged up in the system. It's a fact, time means more loads have gone through the machine and more lint has gone through the system. Another thing to keep in mind about older clothes dryers is that they were not built to the same efficient standards as today's dryers so they may need more maintenance to keep them going more efficiently.

How active is the dryer?

Do you just do a couple of loads of laundry on the weekend or less frequently; or do you have a large enough family to have you drying clothes every other day? The more active your clothes dryer is, the more often you will need to clean the dryer vent system.

How long is your dryer vent?

The length of a dryer vent is a major factor to consider when scheduling regular maintenance. If you have a dryer vent that is more than 10 feet long (meaning from the back of your dryer to where the line terminates outside your home), this means a lot more space where lint can be trapped along the path and a higher need for more frequent cleanings.

Maintenance

You should start with the maintenance you can do which is cleaning out the lint trap before every load. You can also clean out the chute that the lint trap sits in with a specialized cleaner or the nozzle portion of your vacuum cleaner.

Eventually you should call in a professional who can look for the lint trapped inside your machine as well as in the vent line. This should be done at least once a year for moderate use and more frequently if you use your machine more often.

This article was written by Rhonda Nole, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of the Greater North Bay area. DVW provides dryer vent cleaning, maintenance, repairs and alterations while educating consumers on dryer fire prevention. Rhonda services the North Bay area including Santa Rosa, San Anselmo, Rohnert Park, Sonoma, Cotati, Napa, Petaluma and neighboring communities. Visit http://www.dryerventwizard.com for more information.

Dryer Vent Cleaning and 6 More Money Saving Tips for Consumers in Sonoma, California

2009-02-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

Attention Consumers with Clothes Dryers in Sonoma, California

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 Sonoma County 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 Sonoma, CA

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 Sonoma 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 newer 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 Sonoma County California

When the weather is right, hang laundry outdoors and let Mother Nature’s sun and breeze dry your laundry free. This 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 Sonoma, CA

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.

Rhonda Nole, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard in Napa, California, specializes in dryer vent cleaning, repairs and inspections. Rhonda will make sure your dryer vent system is up to code and working at top efficiency. Dryer Vent Wizard (http://www.dryerventwizard.com) technicians always take the time to explain proper maintenance to their customers, so that they understand the importance of dryer vent cleaning to prevent dryer fires.

Please watch this video provided by Dryer Vent Wizard of Sonoma County

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

Dryer Vent Wizard of Greater North Bay area in California provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, dryer vent installation, dryer vent inspections and all dryer vent services for homes and businesses in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Lake and Mendocino Counties and the following cities in California: San Francisco, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Cotati, Windsor, Napa, Ross, Kentfield, Bodega Bay, Healdsburg, American Canyon, Corte Madera, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Guerneville, Greenbrae, Sausalito, Marin City, Larkspur, San Anselmo, Sonoma, Glen Ellen, Kenwood, Cloverdale, Mill Valley, Woodacre, Novato, Tiburon, Belvedere, Stinson Beach and other near by areas.