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Q: I clean my lint
screen each time I use the dryer. Doesn’t that keep the
lint from going into the vent?
A:
No. Lint is finer than the human hair. More than 20% gets
by the lint screen with each dryer load.
Q: My Dryer is over
10 years old, could the drying just be slowing down because
it’s tired and worn out?
A:
Dryers are very simple machines in their design and
make-up. There are things that wear out, such as seals in
the front and back of the drum, and bearings in the
rollers. With proper maintenance and regular lint removal
from venting the dryer should dry in 30- 45 minutes, even
when it’s 15-20 years old.
Q: After drying a
load of clothes for 90 minutes, I opened the door and water
ran off the door and onto the floor. What’s up with that?
A:
Your dryer is not getting proper air flow out of the dryer.
The heating system is working to release moisture from the
clothes, but the moisture has no place to go. It condenses
and runs back onto the clothes and off the door and onto the
floor.
Q: Are water boxes a
good way to eliminate dryer vents from clogging up?
A:
First and most important – NEVER use water boxes with a gas
dryer! You’re dealing with carbon monoxide coming out of
the dryer. Secondly, the water box manufacturers claim
that they catch the
lint that gets by the lint screen. This is only true to a
marginal extent, and only if you regularly put water in the
box. Even under the best conditions, the box will not
catch all the lint. Some lint will blow out of the box and
into the air to be sucked back into the dryer as it pulls
air in to heat it up. In the process of drying clothes over
time, this creates the fire hazard.
Q: What types of
flexible hose should I use behind the dryer?
A:
There are two types recommended to run between the dryer and
the wall. Either Rigid Aluminum or Flexible (accordion)
Aluminum. Keeping in mind the straightest possible route is
best.
Q: In order to close
the bi-fold doors to the laundry closet I have to push both
the washer & dryer completely against the rear wall. Is
this a problem?
A:
Yes! It is a big problem for your dryer. Rarely do the
exhaust pipe from the dryer and the vent pipe in the wall
line directly up. If they are offset even slightly, the
flex hose will be smashed between the dryer and the wall
cutting off the air flow, extends drying times,
overheating and burned out parts will result.
Q: I was told that
because I have a long dryer vent that I should have a
booster fan installed. Should I pay the extra money for a
fan?
A: I
wouldn’t! We’re dealing with damp lint traveling through
the vent to the outside. The booster fan motors are located
in the center of the fan housing. All the damp, sticky lint
passes over the fan motor.
As the lint
builds up throughout the system it overheats the motor and
burns it out. With periodic dryer vent cleanings you should
not need a booster fan in most circumstances.
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