Categories Dryer Vent Cleaning

Safe & Efficient: Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning Services

Choose the right company for dryer vent cleaning

Cleaning your dryer vent is one of those household maintenance tasks that can often be overlooked, but it’s incredibly important for several reasons. As Dryer Vent Cleaner, based in Beamsville, Ontario, we have been in business since 2011, and in that time, we’ve seen and resolved a wide range of dryer venting issues. From routine cleanings to addressing complex problems like vent blockages on roofs, we have extensive experience in keeping dryer systems running safely and efficiently.

Categories Dryer Fire Prevention, Dryer Fire Safety, Dryer Fires, Dryer Vent Cleaning

How Dryer Fires Happen – Are You at Risk of a Dryer Fire?

Dryer Fires How They Happen We Recommend You Watch First

Dryer fires happen, there are over 15,000 each year in North America. In Ontario we do not hear them mentioned very often but ask most people and they know someone who has had a dryer fire!

Following 2 recent dryer fires in Hamilton, Ontario we put together this video that shows how and why dryer fires happen.

Categories Dryer Fire Prevention, Dryer Fire Safety, Dryer Fires, Dryer Vent Cleaning

Is Your Dryer Vent Hose a Potential Fire Risk?

best dryer hose to use on dryer

Do you have the wrong hose connecting your dryer vent? The chances are you do as we see a lot of dryer vents and dryers that are using the WRONG DRYER HOSE! That’s wrong determined by the actual dryer manufacturers themselves not us. By having the wrong dryer hose on your dryer it could invalidate your dryers warranty in the event of any warranty call for an issue. When we go to homes to carry out dryer vent cleaning we see this all the time.

Learn Whats The Best Hose To Connect Your Dryer With

Wrong Hose on Dryer?

On the back of all modern dryers (missing on some older ones) there is a warning label that states not to use plastic of thin foil hose yet most people are using thin foil and vinyl in older homes. Why is this such a big deal, well if ever a fire took place and your insurance company wanted an excuse not to pay out they have a valid excuse. It states clearly in black and white not to use vinyl or thin foil hose.

vinyl dryer hose replacementWhats Wrong With My Dryer Hose?

Vinyl hose or thin foil hose that most leading stores sell are against what the dryer manufacturer recommends yes they quote they are UL2158A rated but they are not all metal the so called foil is a laminate that contains plastic. Thin foil hose or vinyl should not be used, the dryer warning label and owners manual say so. We cannot fathom out why they sell them as dryer vent hose when they should not be used. In the USA there were several class action suits against the box stores.

Class Action Suits Against Box Stores Installing Wrong Dryer Vent Hose

Best Buy dryer vent class action suit

Washington, DC: A class action settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit pending against Best Buy Stores, L.P. (“Best Buy Stores” or “Best Buy” or “Defendant”) in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (styled Frankle v. Best Buy Stores, L.P., Civil Action Case No. 08-5501 JRT/JJG) alleging, among other things, that Best Buy sold clothes dryers in its retail stores throughout the United States and also sold delivery and installation services for the dryers and that, in the owner’s manuals enclosed with several models of clothes dryers, and sometimes attached to the backs of the dryers themselves, there is a warning label and other instructions, which, among other things, warns against and arguably prohibits the installation of metal foil transition ducts or vents when installing the dryer, according to the Best Buy Metal Foil Dryer Duct Or Vent Installation class action settlement notice … The rest can be read here http://www.bigclassaction.com/settlement/best-buy-dryer-settlement-class-action.php

Class Action Against Sears, HHGreg & Lowes Installing Wrong Dryer Vent Hose

May 21 2008 (Reuters) – Appliance retailers Sears Holdings Corp (SHLD.O), Lowe’s Cos Inc (LOW.N) and hhgregg Inc (HGG.N) were charged with improperly installing dryer vents in federal lawsuits seeking class-action status on Wednesday.

The lawsuits state the retailers’ installers attached metal foil or plastic vents to dryers sold to consumers instead of heavy metal ones recommended by manufacturers, creating conditions that could cause fires or death.

The suits seek unspecified monetary damages and corrective action for consumers whose vents were installed improperly. Appliance retailers typically charge a fee for installation.

“These retailers are selling their installation services and then they are (installing) in a way that they know can ultimately be a fire hazard,” said Paul Geller, a Boca Raton, attorney who represents plaintiffs in the lawsuits  … The rest can be read here http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/05/21/appliances-lawsuit-idUSN2144007020080521

 

Dryer Warranties Could Be Voided With Wrong Hoses Used!

It was determined in the HHgreg lawsuit that dryer manufacturers could void the warranty should they recognize the wrong hose was used to connect the cryer to the wall.

They later realized, however, that installers attached a flexible metal foil vent, even though the dryer included a sticker that explicitly stated, “Use a heavy metal vent … do not use metal foil vents.”

By ignoring the warning, the suit says, the company voided manufacturers’ warranties and created a dangerous situation in which the dryers could catch on fire or cause other safety problems.

Read more here http://www.ibj.com/settlement-struck-in-hhgregg-dryer-lawsuit/PARAMS/article/24993

Appliance Stores Putting Ontario Home Owners at Risk

Despite the warning labels clearly displayed on the back of dryers Ontario’s appliance stores still offer to install dryers with the wrong, NOT recommended hose! Ok they are not installing the white vinyl hose, but the thin foil they are always using is so wrong criminal in fact! It is not that they cannot see the large warning label as they have to go behind the dryer whilst hooking up the dryer. Be warned your dryer manufacturer may void warranty work if you have the incorrect dryer hose connecting our dryer to the wall!

Replacing Vinyl Dryer Hose & Thin Foil Dryer Hose

Many people with the wrong dryer hose do not know where to call to get their vinyl hose of thin foil hose changed over, for anyone in Ontario looking for a reliable professional company why not call Dryer Vent Cleaner?

Categories Dryer Fire Prevention, Dryer Fire Safety, Dryer Vent Cleaning

Dryer Fire Prevention

dryer fire preventionDryer Fire Prevention

Dryer fire prevention is overlooked by many home owners, property managers and landlords, simply because they are not aware of the dangers that are associated with the dryer. Many things have changed over the years especially the length of the dryer vent and also the location of the dryer. Gone are the days where the dryer is in the basement close to the outside wall. Now they are situated in the middle of the home on the main or second floor, meaning dryer fire prevention is extremely important. Whats wrong with this is it’s hard for the homeowner to reach the exterior vent to remove lint and it’s a long run makes it hard to remove that lint accumulation. Dryer vents for dryers on the second floor tend to be located on the roof or on the side of the home, needing a 24 foot ladder or longer depending on the height of the ceilings.

Dryer Fire Prevention Stop Fires Happening

Over time lint builds up through the whole dryer exhaust system especially if the basic dryer fire prevention (maintenance) is not carried out . This then slows down the airflow which means the damp air is not able to make it to the end of the dryer vent so more moisture in the ducts, causing more lint to stick to the sides of the dryer ducts. This then accumulates back towards the dryer, if the dryer then gets clogged several things happen.

  • More lint will be present in the laundry room
  • The dryer will be hot to touch
  • Clothes take longer to dry
  • The laundry room gets humid
  • A dryer fire takes place

All the while lint is building up inside the dryer, circulating and settling inside the dryer, possibly escaping through the vents on the back of the dryer, also settling on top of the dryer heating element housing and element. This is where the real hazard lies, lint is easy to ignite and all it takes is one clump that’s settles on top of the element housing or by the element to spark and get moved through the dryer for a dryer fire to start.

Dryer Fire Safety Features inside a Dryer

Dryer manufacturers know the hazards exist and do their best to tell the homeowner what they need to do. However they have built in the following safety features to reduce the risk of a dryer fire. If the dryer vent gets clogged and is sufficient to block air flow, the thermal fuse may blow (one time fuse needs replacing). If the inside temperature of the dryer gets too hot the high limit fuse will cut off the element to cool the dryer down and reduce the risk of a dryer fire. The dryer thermostat will cut the dryer element signal so it only heats for a short while again to prevent dryer fires and reduce the risk of a dryer fire.

Dryer Manufacturers Recommend Professional Dryer Cleaning as Dryer Fire Prevention

The dryer manufacturers recommend having the dryer vent cleaned and having the inside of the dryer cleaned by a professional to prevent a dryer fire! However even the appliance service companies do not know who to refer homeowners to when the dryer vent needs cleaning. Dryer companies also recommend that plastic (vinyl) and thin foil transition hoses are not used to connect the dryer to the wall. All home owners can do is search the internet for terms like “Dryer Vent Cleaning in Burlington” or whatever your city name is this is the best way to prevent a dryer fire.

Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning Prevents Dryer Fires

Professional dryer and dryer vent companies are fully equipped to assist dryer fire prevention, by removing all lint build up inside the dryer and through the dryer vent system. Be sure to find your local dryer vent cleaner to help clean your dryer vent.