First reports from the fire inspectors for Country Music Star Trace Adkins home said that the total loss of his 5,000 square foot house started in his dryer! No matter what the cause, there are lots of house fires that start in a dryer. Let’s eliminate that possibility for our homes with a few easy tips from a appliance repairman.
Have you ever had the heating unit go out on your dryer or think it is about to fail because the clothes aren’t getting dry? Well here is a tip from a repairman. Go over to the dryer and pull out the lint filter. I’ll bet it is clean since most of us clean the lint from the filter after every load of clothes. Now take your “clean” filter over to the sink and run hot water over it. (The lint filter is made of a mesh material). If the hot water is sitting on top of the mesh you have a big problem! Dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh and that’s what burns out heating units. You can’t SEE the film, but it’s there. Those dryer sheets make your clothes soft and static free.
Now take one of your dryer sheets out of the box. Feels waxy doesn’t it? This substance builds up on your lint screen and can stop the air circulation inside the dryer and vent. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down! The best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush every six months. Put it on your calendar! Your dryer might last a few years longer too.
Note: I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water and an old toothbrush and I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it .. the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn’t any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!
Another Tip: Twice a year you should clean the plastic hose pipe that vents to the outside. Use the vacuum cleaner to suck out accumulated dust and lint.
So clean them both and don’t forget to schedule the dryer cleaning on your calendar six months from TODAY!
Tags: Dryer, Fire, Maven Missive, Trace Adkins
July 20th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
This should be advertised as an energy saving tip.Tested Aunties dryer screen as she has burnt out two heat elements, no water ran thru..cleaned w/toothbrush and dishsoap. Clothes are drying in 1/2 the time. thx great tip
July 20th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
That is amazing! So glad you had amazing and measurable results.