The clothes dryer is one of the handiest appliances invented, since it makes it possible to have toasty warm clothes that are dry and comfortable all year round. Although many like to save energy by using clotheslines in the summer months, the dryer is an essential family tool during Sacramento winters when cold weather prevents any thoughts of outdoor clothes drying.
Like all appliances, a clothes dryer needs regular maintenance. And while failing to maintain your wash machine simply means it may break down or flood your garage, failing to maintain your dryer may lead to burning your house down! Every year in the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that dryers cause 2900 home fires, leading to $35 million in damages.
Prevent Dryer Fires
There are two things you need to do to prevent fires in your clothes dryer, whether it’s an electric or gas heated model.
- Clean the lint filter before starting any load of clothes.
- Clean the dryer vent and pipes thoroughly at least once each year.
If you don’t believe that cleaning up lint is that important, take a wad of the stuff and put a match to it over your barbecue or in your fireplace. Dryer lint lights easy and burns quickly! When lint comes in contact with electric heating elements or gas burners, it can easily set things on fire. Let the lint get backed up by failing to clean the filter and the vent and you significantly increase the danger of operating a clothes dryer.
Other Maintenance Steps for Dryers
Pay close attention to how your dryer sounds. If you start to hear a high-pitched squealing while it spins, you may have a faulty belt or bearing. These parts can also get heated up, and then the lint has one more place where it can possibly ignite. Therefore, call River City Appliance for a repair if unusual dryer noises continue after a second load of clothes.
Dryers pull a lot of air through their heating elements, so you also want to keep the space around a dryer free of combustible materials. That means cleaning up lint not just in the filter and the vent, but also in the immediate vicinity of the clothes dryer. If lint tends to collect outside the vent system, you probably have a vent leak and need to change the ducting.
For any other problems, such as with the dryer controls, or if it seems like your dryer just doesn’t dry the clothes properly, contact River City Appliance for expert assistance. Call us on the phone or ask for a repair appointment via our online request system.