Concord Dryer Vent Cleaning Wizard Provides Fall Maintenance Tips to New Hampshire Homeowners

A major part of the National Fire Prevention Month Campaign is raising public awareness to eliminate fire hazards in the home

Concord NH -- Fall is a busy time of the year for many families. It is also the time of year when the frequency of home fires increases, so it makes perfect sense to observe National Fire Prevention Month by locating and eliminating potential fire hazards in the home. The Concord Dryer Vent Cleaning Wizard provides simple fall maintenance tips to help promote safety during fire season.

Clothes dryers are one of the biggest energy users in the home and the most likely appliance to cause a fire. Carbon monoxide from poorly vented gas-powered appliances is another hazard. All fuel burning appliances, including gas dryers, must be properly vented to eliminate the hazard.

Education is a vital part of the Wizard’s service as he works all year to raise public awareness about hazards associated with poorly vented clothes dryers. Clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of dryer fires. Poorly installed dryer vent systems are also a major contributor to poor dryer performance and ventilation problems.

Webb Dickson, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard (http://www.nhdryervent.com) increases his efforts during Fire Prevention Month in October by providing the following tips to his customers:

• Install a carbon monoxide detector near appliances and make sure the battery is fresh and the device is working properly.

• Install smoke detectors throughout the house and test them to be sure they work.

• Furnace cleaning should be scheduled regularly. Check with the manufacturer or refer to the service manual for frequency recommendation.

• Dryer vent cleaning should be done annually to be sure the dryer is operating safely and efficiently. A clogged dryer vent system is a fire hazard and it will cause the dryer to run longer and use more energy.

• Be sure the area around the furnace, dryer, water heater and other gas appliances is not cluttered with combustible items, like cardboard boxes or flammable chemicals, like paint thinners or solvents.

• Look around the house for anything that could be a fire hazard and take steps to make it safe. Encourage the rest of the family to get involved so that no hazard is overlooked.

• Plan and rehearse an escape plan in case of fire. Be sure children understand the plan and agree on a place to meet outside when everyone gets out.

Dryer vent cleaning is the best defense against dryer fires and it is necessary maintenance for improved dryer performance and energy savings. Most appliances require maintenance for longevity, but, some maintenance tasks are also critical to home safety.

Dryer Vent Wizard is the highest qualified dryer vent service provider in the nation. Webb Dickson will perform a complete dryer vent inspection and explain his findings to the customer so they understand the benefits of service. Dickson serves the entire state of New Hampshire, providing commercial and residential dryer vent cleaning, repair and new dryer vent installation. Visit http://dryerventcleaningconcordnh.blogspot.com/ to learn more.


About Dryer Vent Wizard: Dryer Vent Wizard is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the largest chain of dryer vent cleaning, repair, replacement and alternation specialists in the U.S. with nearly 60 franchisees in major markets. Dryer Vent Wizard franchisees work to promote public awareness on the importance of dryer vent cleaning to prevent dryer fires and save energy. Consumer education while making clothes dryers safer and greener are the main focus of DVW franchisees. Dryer Vent Wizard was founded in 2004 by Dave Lavalle who is also the founder of the Mr. Handyman franchise.

Dryer Vent Cleaning and Laundry Room Storage

Dryer vent cleaning is important appliance maintenance for a number of reasons. The most important reason to clean dryer vents is to prevent dryer fires. Dryer vent cleaning is one of the most neglected chores; yet, one of the most important. Kudos to those who clean dryer vents regularly; shame on those who don’t!

Another issue of concern is what you may have stored in your laundry room. For many people, the laundry room also serves as a “junk room” where various items are kept. Where else would one keep things like cleaning supplies, grocery bags and pet foods? What about paint, spackling, tools and charcoal lighter? Or boxes full of odds and ends, future garage sale items or stuff you plan to donate to charity? While the laundry room may seem to be the perfect place to store things it can also be the most dangerous place. Some things are better stored in the garage, shed or basement.

Clutter in the utility room can be flammable. If a fire were to occur, the nearby items would serve as fuel to feed the hungry flames. Is the clutter blocking your path to the fire extinguisher? Or is it blocking the path for firefighters? Even if the clutter does not cause the fire, it can cause more damage if a fire occurs.

Belmont, NH: A dryer fire left 10 people, including 6 children, homeless. The malfunctioning dryer, in the basement of an apartment building, set fire to nearby debris according to fire officials.

Be careful what you store in your laundry room. Sure, you want the rest of your home to be presentable, and company rarely goes into the laundry room. Out of sight, out of mind…until you smell smoke!

Webb Dickson 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 New Hampshire, Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Portsmouth, Derry, Bedford, Keene, Milford, Middlesex and Essex County, Massachusetts, Billerica, Burlington, Westford, Concord, Stow, Marlborough, Natick, Hopkinton, Framingham, Gloucester, Middleton, Newburyport, Haverhill, Lawrence, Beverly and neighboring cities and communities.

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Clean Dryer Vents and Prevent Dryer Fires in Concord, NH

October is Fire Prevention Month. The history of National Fire Prevention Week goes back to the Great Chicago Fire which occurred October 9, 1871. Such disasters often lead to campaigns that promote public awareness on prevention and safety. The National fire Protection Association is the authority on fire safety.

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday of the week in which October 9th falls.

Dryer fires account for over $9,000 in damage to residential buildings annually. For every 1,000 residential dryer fires, there are an average of 33 injuries and 1.2 deaths. Dryer fires peak during the winter months of November through March and occur most commonly between the hours of noon and nine in the evening. Failure to properly maintain dryer vents is the leading cause of dryer fires.
Other causes of dryer fires include improper venting material, storage of combustible material near the dryer and mechanical or electrical problems.

To ensure safety in the home and to prevent clothes dryer fires, consumers should take the following actions:

• Keep a working fire extinguisher, designed for use in the laundry area
• Test smoke detectors periodically, replacing batteries as needed
• Clean lint screens before and after each load of laundry
• Wash lint screens monthly with soap and water to remove residue buildup from dryer sheets
• Use care with rags soaked with combustible chemicals; wash twice before drying, or line dry only
• Keep flammable items stored away from the clothes dryer
• Have your dryer vent system professionally inspected and cleaned annually
• Make sure the dryer vent system is up to code according to city, state, and manufacturer requirements
• Replace plastic or vinyl vents with semi-rigid or solid metal material
• Be sure vent systems are as straight and short as possible to prevent buildup at elbows
• Check the vent cover, outside, for signs of blockage, freezing, or damage
• Develop a fire safety/emergency plan for the household, and rehearse it often

Webb Dickson 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 New Hampshire, Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Portsmouth, Derry, Bedford, Keene, Milford, Middlesex and Essex County, Massachusetts, Billerica, Burlington, Westford, Concord, Stow, Marlborough, Natick, Hopkinton, Framingham, Gloucester, Middleton, Newburyport, Haverhill, Lawrence, Beverly and neighboring cities and communities.

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Green Dryers with Clean Dryer Vents Reduce Damage to Environment

Of course the greenest of clothes dryers is the clothesline; however, this is not considered an option for most people today. So the thing to do is be conservative with the clothes dryer to reduce harmful impact to our environment while reducing energy cost.

Clean Clogged Dryer Vents

When you clean the lint filter after each load, notice how much lint is on it; realize that this is only about 60% of the lint that was removed from laundry; the other 40% escaped into the back of the dryer and the dryer ducts.

Clogged dryer vents reduce air flow, causing your dryer to work harder and run longer to dry a load of laundry. This is a waste of energy. Clogged dryer vents cause your dryer to cost an additional $300 per year to operate.

Failure to clean dryer vents is the number one cause of dryer fires; over 15,000 occur each year. Take steps to reduce lint build up and have professional dryer vent cleaning performed annually to keep your dryer operating safely and efficiently.

Don’t Over-load the Dryer

Over-loading the dryer causes wear on the appliance due to the weight being more than the dryer was designed to handle. It reduces the efficiency of the dryer because air needs to circulate between the clothes for them to dry.

Dry heavier items separate from light weight clothes and do back to back, full loads of laundry. Don’t allow the dryer to cool down between loads; take advantage of the pre-heated dryer to start the next load.

When the time comes to purchase a new dryer, choose one with a cool-down cycle and automatic dry cycle. New dryers have moisture sensors that automatically stop your dryer when clothes are dry. This reduces drying time, saves energy and prolongs the life of your clothing as it prevents over-drying.

Proper use of the dryer and maintenance of the dryer vent system will reduce wear on the appliance, prevent premature repairs, save energy and prevent a dryer fire. That’s a huge savings compared to the cost of professional dryer vent cleaning. Dryer manufacturers recommend dryer vents be cleaned annually to keep your dryer operating safely and efficiently.


Webb Dickson, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, dryer vent installation and all dryer vent exhaust services for homes and businesses in New Hampshire, Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Portsmouth, Derry, Bedford, Keene, Milford, Middlesex and Essex County, Massachusetts, Billerica, Burlington, Westford, Concord, Stow, Marlborough, Natick, Hopkinton, Framingham, Gloucester, Middleton, Newburyport, Haverhill, Lawrence, Beverly and neighboring cities and communities.

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The Concord, NH Wizard says Clean Dryer Vents for a Green Environment

Dryer Vent Repair for Dryer Efficiency Concord, New Hampshire

The most important thing your clothes dryer needs is clear exhaust; most dryers fail to operate as a result of inadequate dryer vent systems. Improperly maintained dryer vent systems can lead to premature failure of bearings, drum rollers, motor, element and other critical parts.

Indications of improper dryer venting includes:

Longer drying time; more than one cycle to dry a load
Clothes are unusually hot at the end of the dryer cycle
Dryer is noisy – thumping scraping sounds
Dryer repeatedly shuts off before clothes are dry
Automatic sensors fail to shut off
Clothes have a moldy or smoky smell after dryer cycle
Dryer cabinet is hot when dryer is running

Dryer Vent Repair for Consumers in Concord, New Hampshire

Dryer vent repair is necessary if you are experiencing any of the above listed problems. The dryer vent system through which dryer exhaust travels is critical in keeping your home free of excess heat and moisture. The health of your dryer vent system is directly related to the stress that is placed on the dryer. Failure to repair and maintain your dryer vent system will lessen the lifespan of your dryer.

Typical Dryer Vent Repairs for Concord Customers

Check the dryer vent to be sure the clamps are tight; often a loose clamp causes a dryer vent become disconnected.

Vinyl or flexible foil dryer venting is no longer considered acceptable for dryer ducts. Replace this with 4-inch rigid metal piping. Connect it to the dryer with a pipe clamp and seal joints with foil tape (not duct tape!)

If you have a good dryer vent exhaust system that meets city, state and manufacturer’s codes and you are still experiencing problems then a good cleaning is necessary to remove lint build-up.

Dryer vent cleaning is recommended annually to maintain a safe, efficient clothes dryer. Failure to maintain dryer vent systems is the number one cause of dryer fires and increased energy bills.

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 New Hampshire, Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Portsmouth, Derry, Bedford, Keene, Milford, Middlesex and Essex County, Massachusetts, Billerica, Burlington, Westford, Concord, Stow, Marlborough, Natick, Hopkinton, Framingham, Gloucester, Middleton, Newburyport, Haverhill, Lawrence, Beverly and neighboring cities and communities.

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