Most everyone today owns a washer and dryer. Washers and dryers are one set of appliances that get used a lot; if you have a large family, it will seem the washer and dryer runs constantly.
It’s easy to take these appliances for granted. But, one day, you may just open your dryer, after it has been running almost an hour, to remove clothing and find it is still wet or it is very hot to the touch. Or, maybe the dryer just won’t start.
There are several reasons for these symptoms. Sometimes, it’s quite simple; a circuit breaker overload that just needs to be reset. But, these are also symptoms of lint build up in the dryer vent system causing restricted air flow, which leads to overheating and eventually, a fire. Lint is combustible; add extreme heat from a clothes dryer that isn’t venting properly and you have a recipe for a clothes dryer fire.
Lint isn’t always the culprit, but it is a good idea to check for it and rule it out. There are parts of a dryer that wear out, including the thermostat, timer, start switch or terminal block. These are electrical parts and need to be tested with a VOM meter. Some people are inclined to figure these simple repairs out themselves, but electricity is dangerous for the amateur; this may be something that you would want to have a professional handle.
Another common problem is belts. After years of usage belts weaken and can just snap or stretch out to the point of being too loose to turn the drum. The drum roller could be worn out or a pulley could need adjustment. If a dryer isn’t heating, it could have a bad heating coil, switch, timer or thermostat.
There are many things that cause a dryer to work inefficiently, but, most of the time the problem is due to failure to maintain the dryer vent system. This is a fire hazard and should not be let go for long. Professional dryer vent cleaning should be done at least once a year, with homeowner maintenance done in between, to ensure the dryer is operating efficiently and safely.
This article was written by Mory Matias, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard in Chicago, Illinois. Mory services 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.
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Dryer Vent Wizard provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair and dryer vent installation for homeowners and in commercially-owned buildings. Poorly maintained dryer vents are fire hazards and cause clothes dryers to cost substantially more to operate.
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.
