Dryer Vent Repair San Anselmo California 707.326.7171

Dryer Vent Cleaning: Do it yourself or Hire it done?

2010-02-23T10:04:00.000-08:00

Dryer vent cleaning should be done by a professional; however, plenty of homeowners choose to do it themselves to save money. Dryer vent cleaning involves more than just cleaning the dryer vent.

Constant Maintenance

Cleaning the lint trap – This is a part of the maintenance that you should make sure you are doing on a regular basis. The lint trap should be cleaned after every load of laundry. While you may not think a lot of lint is coming off of your clothes, any lint that is left in the trap from the load before will decrease the efficiency of the dryer. Additionally, that lint can start to sneak around the edges of the lint trap and get clogged up in other parts of the dryer, causing problems.

Periodic Maintenance

When it comes to the lint trap, you should periodically go beyond just pulling the lint off of the trap screen. From time to time, use your vacuum nozzle attachment or a shop vac to try and suck out any other lint that is in the chute where the lint trap rests.

Outside the lint trap, there is plenty of lint that will sneak around in your dryer and the vent line, no matter how good you are at cleaning it up. You will need to remove the back panel from your dryer to clean the lint that has built up around the motor and the drum.

Dryer vent cleaning brushes and tools can be purchased at hardware or home-improvement stores. The brush will have a long, hose-like handle that can be pushed through the line leading from your dryer to the vent to clean out any build up.

Remove the vent tube from the back of the dryer and reach in as far as you can to remove lint accumulation. Go outside and reach in from the vent. Reconnect everything and turn on the dryer to blow out anything you may have missed.

How long did all this take? It sounds pretty simple. Do you think you did a good job? Was it worth the little bit of money you may have saved by doing it yourself? Maybe your dryer vent system is clean enough, but is it properly installed?

If you have any doubts you should have a professional inspect your dryer vent system. An improperly installed dryer vent or one made of inferior material can be hazardous…even if it is squeaky clean!

Dryer vent cleaning is recommended at least once a year to ensure your dryer is working safely and efficiently. If you are quite handy and you insist on doing it yourself, consider hiring a professional every few years to be sure your dryer vent system meets current safety standards.

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 the Greater North Bay area, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Sonoma, Cotati, Napa, Petaluma, San Rafael, Greenbrae, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Sausalito, San Anselmo, Tiburon, Sebastopol, Windsor, Healdsburg, Graton, Kenwood, Kentfield and neighboring cities and communities.

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Dryer Vent Cleaning - Q & A from The San Anselmo Wizard

2009-10-14T13:37:00.001-07:00

Q & A about Dryer Vent Cleaning and Lint Build-up

Dryer vent cleaning is the removal of lint build-up, starting in the dryer drum itself, leading to the exhaust ducts and the dryer vent attached to the outside of your home. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about dryer vent cleaning:

Q: Honestly, do I really need to concern myself with dryer vent cleaning?
A: Yes! One of the leading causes of house fires is the clothes dryer! Most dryer fires happen as the result of improper maintenance, mainly, failure to clean the dryer vents and exhaust ducts.

Q: How often is dryer vent cleaning recommended?
A: Dryer vent cleaning is recommended at least once a year; more often if you have a large family or several pets as pet hair also builds up in the system.

Q: How can I tell if dryer vent cleaning is necessary?
A: The number one sign of dryer lint build-up is your dryer taking more than one cycle to properly dry your clothes.

Q: My home is a newer model with the laundry facilities upstairs near the bedrooms; does this mean my dryer vent system is more efficient; therefore requiring less need for maintenance?
A: No! Though there are advantages to newer systems being more energy efficient, your clothes dryer requires proper air-flow in order to perform its job. The location of your laundry room requires longer exhaust ducts; therefore, more places for lint to build up and create a problem. In fact, longer ducts means less air-flow and increased lint build-up.

Q: My old dryer does take longer to dry a load of laundry; could it be wearing out?
A: Not likely; this is a sure sign of lint build-up. If your dryer is heating up and clothes are not drying, it is because there is no air-flow. Lint has built up so heat and moisture cannot escape from the dryer drum. Even a brand new dryer will not work if the dryer ducts are blocked.

Most dryer vents are mounted about two feet above the ground on the wall outside of the laundry room. Some dryers are vented through the roof. Some dryer ducts are very short and straight; others are very long, especially if the laundry room is upstairs or in the basement. Some systems are quite easily cleaned by the average homeowner; others require special tools and equipment. A certified dryer vent professional will have the necessary tools to do the job.

Green Laundry Tip: Solar Drying is Free! Try using a clothes line for a refreshing change

Rhonda Nole 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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Clothes Dryer Repair and Dryer Vent Repair: Advice from the San Anselmo Wizard

2009-08-28T13:05:00.002-07:00

Appliance repair service is usually the answer when appliances are not functioning properly. The clothes dryer is an exception to the rule. In most cases, if your dryer is not working right, there is an airflow problem. Calling a dryer repairman to correct the problem can be very expensive. A dryer vent cleaning service is the right choice to make when the clothes dryer is malfunctioning.

Lint is the evil culprit when there is an airflow problem; lint clogged dryer vents cause over 15,000 dryer fires each year. Lint builds up in several areas including inside the dryer, in the dryer ducts and the dryer vent. Lint will also build up just below the lint screen that should be cleaned after each load of laundry.

Dryer vent cleaning is recommended annually to remove lint build-up and prevent a dryer fire. A professional dryer vent cleaning technician will pull the dryer away from the wall and remove the back to clean inside the dryer cabinet as well.

Dryer fires are also caused by improperly installed dryer vent systems or dryer vent systems in need or repair. A dryer vent cleaning specialist will do a complete inspection and make the corrections necessary to ensure your dryer vent system is safe.

Dryer vent repair and cleaning technicians can do most simple dryer repairs as well. Belts and fuses are not difficult to repair or replace and a dryer vent cleaning specialist will do this much cheaper than the appliance repair man. All dryer vent systems should be cleaned annually; therefore, one service call will ensure your clothes dryer operates safely and efficiently.

Rhonda Nole owns Dryer Vent Wizard, a dryer vent repair, cleaning and installation company; Rhonda is also committed to educating consumers to prevent dryer fires and save energy. DVW has a goal to make one million clothes dryers safer and greener by 2010.

Rhonda Nole 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.

The Wizard of San Anselmo says Dryer Vent Repair will Cure most Dryer Ailments

2009-08-28T13:05:00.001-07:00

Dryer Vent Repair is Necessary for San Anselmo, California Clothes Dryers

Dryer vent repair or cleaning is the likely cure for a clothes dryer that is not working properly. Rarely does the dryer itself need repair. Is your dryer taking longer to completely dry a load of laundry? Is it unusually hot in the laundry room when the dryer is running? Do clothes come out with a moldy smell or are they hot to the touch? These are a few signs that there is something wrong with the dryer vent system.

Dryer Vent Repair Increases Air Flow for San Anselmo, CA Dryers

When clothes are tumbling in the dryer heat is applied, increasing the temperature in the drum to about 175 degrees, evaporating moisture and forcing it through the dryer exhaust ducts. The heat helps, but air flow is what really gets the clothes dry. Like clothes drying on a clothesline on a windy day, the dryer constantly blows air through the tumbling clothes to do the job. As your laundry tumbles, the hot air picks up moisture which is forced into the dryer ducts leading to the vent outdoors.

Dryer Vent Repair to Remove Heat and Moisture from San Anselmo Homes

The primary function of your dryer duct and vent system is to carry heat and moisture from your home. Many people believe it is responsible for removing lint; however, most lint trapped in the duct system remains there until it is cleaned out.

Dryer Vent Repair to Meet Current Safety Codes in San Anselmo

Your clothes dryer will function efficiently as long as nothing is allowed to obstruct airflow. The older style dryer ducts were made of vinyl or flexible plastic; they were popular because they were very easy to install. This type of dryer exhaust duct is no longer acceptable for use. Dryer ducts should be made of semi-rigid or rigid metal.

Dryer Vent Repair for Clothes Dryer Performance for San Anselmo Residents

If your dryer is not performing as well as it used to then dryer vent repair or maintenance is necessary. Rarely is there a problem with the dryer. A dryer vent repair technician who specializes in dryer exhaust issues can do an inspection and explain their recommendations to correct the problem.

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.