Thread Number: 5004
Why it's important to keep that dryer vent clean!
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Post# 109952   2/15/2006 at 10:57 (6,616 days old) by jerseymike ()        

This article is from my local paper. A minor fire was caused by lint accumulation in a dryer. Fortunately, no one was hurt and it sounds like there was little or no damage! Scary!

Mike


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Post# 110016 , Reply# 1   2/15/2006 at 21:54 (6,616 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        

I shall pass this article along to those who think I am a nut for taking the vent hose off my dryer and vaccuuming it and the inside of the dryer out several times a year. Of course, you know I am justifying my obsessive compulsive cleaning habits too.... :)

Post# 110050 , Reply# 2   2/16/2006 at 04:08 (6,615 days old) by designgeek ()        

At least she was at home and paying attention when the fire occurred and was able to get help quickly. Cases where people have left their dryers run without being aware of what's going on, have ended up with serious damage to houses. Same old rule, always watch your appliances when they're plugged in & running. Except the fridge:-)

Post# 110061 , Reply# 3   2/16/2006 at 06:44 (6,615 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

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But how does the fridge run if the cord is tethering it to the wall? LOL

Post# 110064 , Reply# 4   2/16/2006 at 06:57 (6,615 days old) by retromom ()        
Dangerous dryers!

I've heard of this happening too. I usually replace my dryer vent hose every year. I use the aluminum type. I have always felt that the plastic ones are prone to getting overheated and melting and/or catching on fire. I also vacuum out the filter area for accumulated lint. It can get really gross in there!

Post# 110065 , Reply# 5   2/16/2006 at 07:05 (6,615 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

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I am still of the belief that dryer softener sheets are dangerous/harmful to the machine, to the environment and to the clothing.

It's adding wax to a hot place, sometimes a place with flames.

less detergent and less drying time will usually accomplish the same function as the sheets.


Post# 110077 , Reply# 6   2/16/2006 at 08:19 (6,615 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        
toggleswitch...

Good point about the dryer sheets being potentially dangerous...I don't use them because of the claims that they mess up the moisture sensors, which makes sense, and because I've heard they sometimes leave spots on synthetic fabrics, but never thought about the danger associated with them...thanks for the comment.

Post# 110096 , Reply# 7   2/16/2006 at 10:48 (6,615 days old) by parunner58 (Davenport, FL)        

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Years ago there was a 20/20(i think it was this show) episode of house fires. One segment was about people with Mr. Coffees with the timers that they went bad and burned the Kithcens. We never leave any counter top apps plug in. especially the coffee maker or toaster. The crock pot is the only exception. The other segment was on not cleaning the lint screens, Checking the vent hose, or the inside of the dryer. The irony was that one of the fires was from the dryer of the Fire Chiefs house. They rarely emptied the lint screen or checked the vent hose. I too check mine and clean it a few times a year.

Post# 110107 , Reply# 8   2/16/2006 at 13:18 (6,615 days old) by wigwagster ()        

You have to be very cautious of any appliance when running.
I purchased a new Whirlpool gold washer 3 weeks ago and last week while washing my alarms sounded only to find my laundry room on fire and my washer burning. It was a real mess, but thank god I was here or my whole house would have gone up!
A true lesson on never leave an applaince running when not at home!


Post# 110114 , Reply# 9   2/16/2006 at 14:47 (6,615 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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Where does one draw the line on safety vs. convenience? Fear vs. need? Think about the millions of electrical devices that are running everywhere. Computers and network equipment, water pumps and water heaters and septic systems and irrigation equipment, stoplights, ice machines, self-serve gasoline pumps, clocks, idle VCRs, refrigerators and freezers, security lights, air conditioning and heating systems, and on and on. Accidents happen. How many people are willing to kill the main electric feed to their house and go live in a cave? How many people disconnect their electric range after every cooking session? Those burner switches and oven thermostats can go wonky, too. Safety is a good thing, but paranoia is crippling.

In my house right now, there are three candle warmers running. Two refrigerators, one with an ice maker that may trigger the water well to turn on during a fill cycle. A septic system with an aerator motor that runs for a few mins out of every hour and a sump pump that runs on a timer scheduled for 3:30 AM daily. A computer on a UPS (monitor is turned off). Two VCRs. Outside lighting run by a wall-switch timer that turns on at 6:30 PM, off at 4:00 AM. Several pieces of A/V equipment in stand-by mode. Four clocks. HVAC on a setback thermostat. A yard-sprinkler system that's set to Off mode but the timer is still powered. A blood-pressure monitor that's plugged in but off. Several lamps. Electric range, OTR microwave, and dishwasher all plugged in, "off" but actually in standby mode. Washer and dryer plugged in, "off" but also in stand-by mode. A tankless water heater in standby mode. I think that's everything.


Post# 110235 , Reply# 10   2/16/2006 at 23:40 (6,614 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

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I personally would love to see "hard-power-down" switches on electronically controlled appliances. Especially electronically controlled ovens!

I added a wall-switch to control the A/C outlet when I installed the separate line for it. This is a Whirlpool 10,000 BTU/h supplemental unit for the basement "dining hall/kitchen"

The computer panel ARRIVED defective, thank you so very much!
As such, I have very little faith in it/them.

(No Jason that is not THE blue towel. LOL)


Post# 110236 , Reply# 11   2/16/2006 at 23:41 (6,614 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

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pic

Post# 110237 , Reply# 12   2/16/2006 at 23:44 (6,614 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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That is an odd-looking electric plug.

Post# 110239 , Reply# 13   2/17/2006 at 00:02 (6,614 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

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They all now come with GFIs (Ground-fault[circuit]interruptors). UK==> Residual current interruptors.

I had to add a grounding adapter (as a spacer) because the moulding of the wood paneling was in the way of that huge plug.

(Yes the adapter has a screw-hole grounidng rpiece, and it is properly secured to the outlet plate-cover screw therby grounding the works).


Post# 110392 , Reply# 14   2/18/2006 at 07:26 (6,613 days old) by stainfighter (Columbia, SC)        
re- why it's important

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I think it was Sudmaster that offered the suggestion, in another thread, to actually wash and dry the dryer lint screen. Our Frig dryer was running a little long with cycle times so I thought I'd give this a shot; washed it with Dawn. Also windexed the moisture sensor. Viola!!! Like a brand new dryer. I always empty the lint screen after each use but never thought about washing the screen. Try it; it does make a difference.

Post# 110460 , Reply# 15   2/18/2006 at 16:59 (6,613 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

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Appliance Service News had an article a few years ago,about a service tech working on a Whirlpool dryer.After fixing the problem,he took the blower and vent assembly apart,to clean it,and found a live 12GA shotgun shell,in the vent near the blower.

kennyGF


Post# 110524 , Reply# 16   2/19/2006 at 00:14 (6,612 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

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"Appliance Service News had an article a few years ago,about a service tech working on a Whirlpool dryer.After fixing the problem,he took the blower and vent assembly apart,to clean it,and found a live 12GA shotgun shell,in the vent near the blower."

Well, someone has to work on the Vice-President's appliances.


Post# 110540 , Reply# 17   2/19/2006 at 01:31 (6,612 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

I wonder how that shotshell got in there??If it had passed thru the blower or heater--???I keep mine in their boxes.

Post# 110546 , Reply# 18   2/19/2006 at 01:46 (6,612 days old) by norgeman ()        
Thank you JerseyMike.

Glad to see the article on dryer safty. Where I work I was on paint crew one summer about 2 years ago when my supervisors
wife were at home for lunch and she had put a load of clothes in the dryer and both of them went off back to work. Well needless to say my supervisor got back to work when he got a call to go back home from the fire department, that his house was on fire and by the way they lived in a mobile home. The whole house was distroyed. It had started from the dryer. So the moral of the story is don't run your dryer when you are not there. One other bit of advice is when buying a dryer Whirlpool recomends that you do not use dryer sheets fabric softerns as they have a wax on them and will build up in time and block the flow of air alowing heat to build up and starting a fire. If you do use softern sheets Whirlpool will void the warrenty. So be warned.


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Post# 110553 , Reply# 19   2/19/2006 at 04:09 (6,612 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

I can remember visits to the apartment building by the fire dept-dryer fires in the laundry rooms.Usually from folks that ran the dryers too long-and baked their clothes.Put too many dimes in the dryer!That was back in the days when a dime gave you about 10min dryer run time.I also would wonder how often the dryer vents were cleaned by the apartment building (or laundry co that furnished the machines)staff?Bet a LOT of lint congested in those vents.Esp in the main laundry room where they had the large style dryers that had the HUGE gas burners-was like a blowtorch when they were running-"American" I beleive was the brand of the large dryers-on each floor(hi-rise) they had standard size dryers with a coinmeter on them.

Post# 110557 , Reply# 20   2/19/2006 at 04:41 (6,612 days old) by designgeek ()        


There's paranoia and there's prudence. Toggleswitch's toggleswitch on the AC is prudent. I unplug anything high-wattage when I'm not using it, and I don't leave high-wattage things running when I'm not home & nearby. I would be cautious about high-wattage things with standby controls, for example a large TV if I had one, would be unplugged (or turned off with a power strip) when not in use.

My base load consists of the fridge, clock radio, PBX (phone system) and computer network. Everything else is on when in use and off (generally unplugged) otherwise.

What would really be cool is a wall-mountable power strip with a separate switch for each outlet. The computer "power center" things aren't useful for this because they're designed to sit under your monitor, which is the wrong set of dimensions for wall mounting.

One can always scratchbuild. Take a standard plastic electrical box for six outlets (three columns wide); put two sets of two outlets each in there (two columns), and the third column is a double wall switch (typically the switches in these have horizontal throw, left/right rather than up/down). Each switch controls one set of outlets. Use a heavy duty grounded cord. Wall mount for convenience. Done. If need be, mount this in a wood enclosure and paint to suit. (Note, all connections should be made to the terminal screws or in standard wiring nuts, not with solder which can melt under the heat of high wattage and cause dangerous conditions.)


Post# 110923 , Reply# 21   2/20/2006 at 20:18 (6,611 days old) by retroguy ()        
DADoES.....

I think of all the electric devices that i have plugged in here, the only one that REALLY bugs me is the sump pump. I mean it's in a deep hole in the basement floor. A deep hole that always seems to be full of water. Well, ok, maybe not full, but the water level is always higher than the top of the pump. And, I dont know, maybe it's just me, but anytime I see an electric cord plugged in, that disappears into water, I'm a tad uncomfy! =)

Post# 110934 , Reply# 22   2/20/2006 at 20:35 (6,611 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        

I have a client who works for the local Electric and Gas company who told me that one of the top causes for house fires is the dryer. People don't clean the vent or under it often enough.

Post# 111219 , Reply# 23   2/21/2006 at 17:23 (6,610 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        
found a live 12GA shotgun shell,in the vent near the blower.

toggleswitch's profile picture
WOW.

Remind me of something that happened to me. My neighbors in the co-opeative apt (NYC version of a condo)had keys and were allowed to use my W&D. Utilites were a flat-rate charge by magt and were un-metered to indivisual tenants.

Anyhoo. Mr. pretty-boy police officer neighbor left bullets in his pocket. Wifey washed and dried uniforms.

LIVE ROUNDS WERE TUMBLING IN MY DRYER.

I was cooking at the stove immediately next to the dryer, as it was running. [GOOD for them if all their clothes smelled like onion and garlic]. It's a miracle my jingle-bobs were not shot off.



Post# 111311 , Reply# 24   2/22/2006 at 05:19 (6,609 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
And

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Dont forget that even the best of dryers have their problems. On my dryer there was recall / replacement of a faulty batch of dryer sensors, unfortunatly it didnt happen in time for me, I loaded the dryer and set Auto programme2, which gives a normal dry sensor programme.

I went back upstairs to the office, 3 floors away, and about an hour later was aware of a burning smell, house is tall and the kitchen / utility act like a chimney, the stairs being in the centre of the house.

I started to walk downstairs and could hear this very loud rumbling noise, and could see a blue haze etc..legged it into the laundry and the dryer had overheated, (faulty sensor) the clothes where smoking, the elements glowing red at the back, the bottom panel had come off on one side due to the plastic holding bracket had melted, the panel was rattling on the floor as the drum turned hence the noise.

I couldnt touch the clothes by hand, behind the lower panel the condensor fan and chamber had distorted with heat and the condensor cover panel was open as the tabs had warped.

Couldnt fault the service, dryer quickly exchanged along with the matching washer because of the differnce in stainless steel.

Just goes to show sometimes even the best appliances /cars /consumer goods fail simply because of one small faulty part.

It certainly made me re-think my appliance work practices.

Steve, GFIs in UK = RCD, Residual Circuit Device (tend to be hard wired) or RCB Residual Circuit Breaker, a portable plug in device used for outside appliances like garden tools/power tools...or my antique washing machines n vacs etc...



Post# 111325 , Reply# 25   2/22/2006 at 07:25 (6,609 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

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Thanks Mike. I stand corrected.


Sign in pub in UK:

English spoken
American understood

Have some yellow cake, an I'll have some spotted d. LOL


Post# 111379 , Reply# 26   2/22/2006 at 10:49 (6,609 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
!!!!

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Hey your`re never corrected , always understood...

Now, wheres that desert!!!


Post# 111422 , Reply# 27   2/22/2006 at 15:06 (6,609 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )        

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This is why we hang our laundry outside whenever possible. To avoid just this sort of disaster

Post# 111489 , Reply# 28   2/22/2006 at 22:24 (6,609 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        

Polkanut....some people call it archaic, but I also hang wash whenever possible, to me it smells so nice. A friend of mine said "Your sheets that smell so nice are acting like giant HEPA filters hanging on that line". Never thought of it that way, but guess it's kind of true, however I still like to do it.

Post# 111797 , Reply# 29   2/24/2006 at 14:16 (6,607 days old) by knitwits1975 ()        
Another Great Reason...

Aside from what your local fire marshall will tell you (point taken) is that a clean vent that is free of obstructions will allow your dryer to flow freely and dry the clothes much faster. This will prolong your dryer's life, decrease your energy bills, and cut down on drying time. Let's face it friends, you just don't want your dryer to work any harder than it has to.

Post# 111914 , Reply# 30   2/25/2006 at 09:09 (6,606 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )        

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So what if my laundry is acting like a big HEPA filter, it is saving me money and I get that "great" outdoor scent indoors.

Post# 114019 , Reply# 31   3/8/2006 at 03:24 (6,595 days old) by norgeman ()        
To Polkanut:

I also like to hang clothes outside it puts a fresh smell in them espically bed sheets and pillow cases. So don't feel alone, and this is a big savings on electric and gas or propane bills. Oh BTW. My dryer is a Maytag Neptune and we don't have any problem using dryer sheets as our lint screen is a woven mesh. A friend of our bought a new Whirlpool and the dryer had a metal mesh screen and it is a pretty tight mesh and the wax from the dryer sheets will build up in time and not let air to flow through the screen. If this happens or before it happens wash the lint screen with a dishwashing or liquid laundry detergent and this should take care of the problem. But you will need to wash it from time to time if you use dryer sheets. But like I said in another thread if you get caught using dryer sheets in a new Whirlpool or one of their products you void the warrenty. Whirlpool will not replace or fix the dryer.

Post# 114098 , Reply# 32   3/8/2006 at 14:15 (6,595 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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But like I said in another thread if you get caught using dryer sheets in a new Whirlpool or one of their products you void the warrenty. Whirlpool will not replace or fix the dryer.

That's interesting. Whirlpool used to include a sample package of dryer sheets in their new machines. Apparently they don't do that any more?


Post# 114174 , Reply# 33   3/9/2006 at 02:33 (6,594 days old) by spinout (Phoenix)        

Maybe the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing... Or it's some sort of co-op promotion. Wouldn't be the first time I've seen that happen.

Post# 114196 , Reply# 34   3/9/2006 at 07:49 (6,594 days old) by designgeek ()        


If they're including the dryer sheets with the machine, they can't void the warranty if you use 'em. That would be a huge lawsuit on grounds of consumer fraud, i.e. the allegation that WP was deliberately trying to trick people into voiding their warranties. Though what's really going on would have been the result of lack of communications between the manufacturing dept and the marketing dept. Chances are if this ever happened, some WP dealer would spot it immediately and raise holy hell with WP over it, and that would get it stopped in its tracks.


Post# 114216 , Reply# 35   3/9/2006 at 10:56 (6,594 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

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HA! What goes around comes around.

When first introduced, dryer sheets were NOT recommened by machine mannies.

Then they changed their tune to say, well maybe if your vent is not plastic.

And here we go again back to their orginal thought!


Post# 115514 , Reply# 36   3/16/2006 at 04:15 (6,587 days old) by leesdkenmore ()        

Just a few thoughts. I quit using dryer sheets about a year ago because of the stains I kept finding on my clothes. My washer broke down so I was sending my laundry over to a relative who was willing to do it for me til I got mine fixed. The clothes were comming back smelling great, from a smokers home noless.her product? Good Old Fashioned Downy...wowo I had forgotten how great the smell was. Never again will this laundry room see any kind of dryer sheets.....

Now about the whole leaving appliances plugged in. I am not going to go about worrying about this. As it is I have to make a trip back to the house half the the time to retrieve the stupid cell phone. Im not going to start second trips to go back and unplug everything.

But one item that has come to my concern is that big screen TV. It never even occured to me that that sucker is pulling in electricty even while it was off much less doing weird things with it while Im gone. Thanks guys Ill be up all night getting this figured out...lol. Its just too big to move from the wall everytime and unplugg it, so I got an idea.....anyone know where I can get a gas big screen tv?!!!!



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