Chimney Care Company's Blog
Why you should have your dryer vents cleaned annually
What in-home fire risk do the National Fire Protection Association, FEMA, the Chimney Safety Institute of America and countless home-advice experts all warn against? It is your clothes dryer. Clothes dryers are a leading cause of home fires in the United States.
Each year, clothes dryers are responsible for as many as 15,000 home fires, totaling more than $230 million in property damage. The risk of a clothes dryer fire increases each winter. So what can you do to lower your risk of a fire sparked by a clothes dryer? You should get your dryer vents professionally cleaned.
Lint buildup and your dryer
Most homeowners assume that they take care of their dryer by cleaning the lint trap in between each load of laundry. While this is an important step to reduce your home’s risk of a clothes dryer fire, it’s not enough. As you dry your clothes, towels, and linens, lint bypasses the lint trap. The lint, still damp from the dryer clings to the walls of the dryer vent. The layer of lint covering the vent walls continues to grow as the damp lint sticks to itself. Eventually, your dryer vents become completely clogged, and that’s where the danger is.
Clogged dryer vents and fires
So how do clogged dryer vents lead to fires? When your dryer vents are clogged, your clothes dryer can’t “breathe.” Hot air builds up within the dryer and dryer vents. The dryer’s heating element then overheat and ignite, which lead to a devastating fire. The flammable lint itself can catch fire due to the extreme heat of the dryer. To avoid the risk of a fire caused by your dryer vents, the National Fire Protection Association and the Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends having your clothes dryer vents cleaned by a professional at least once per year.
Professional dryer vent cleaning
You can perform a quick cleaning around your dryer’s vents to lessen the buildup of lint and keep your dryer running efficiently. To effectively clean your dryer vents of lint buildup, you need a professional dryer vent cleaning. Professional dryer vent technicians use high-powered rotating brushes and vacuums to clear your vents completely of lint. The rotating brushes free the lint from the walls of your dryer vents, while the vacuum sucks the loosened lint from the vents.
The risk of dryer vent fire rise each winter; don’t put your home at risk! Call the Chimney Care Co. to schedule your professional dryer vent cleaning to reduce fire risk today!
Design Your New Fireplace with the Firebuilder App!
You’ve decided to rehab your hearth with a new fireplace or warm your home with a brand new hearth this winter — congratulations! Improving your home with a new fireplace is definitely an exciting experience. There are a host of options to considers, from fireplace fuel type to firebox brick patterns to mantel material. All of those options can be overwhelming, and it can be hard to picture what the final product will look like once you have selected all of your options.
The Chimney Care Co. can help you custom build the perfect fireplace for your home! With our new Firebuilder App, you can select all of the elements of your new fireplace and see the final product so you can envision exactly what it would look like in your hearth and your home. With the Firebuilder App, you can customize nearly every detail of your new fireplace, including:
Fuel type
Nearly any fireplace selection process begins with choosing your fireplace fuel type. That’s where you will begin when constructing your custom fireplace with our Firebuilder App. In the Firebuilder App, you will be able to choose from gas-, wood-, pellet- or electric-fueled fireplaces.
Fireplace models
Once you select your fireplace fuel type, you will be able to compare and select from our wide variety of fireplace models. We carry models from the nation’s top brands. Select your desired fireplace model, and you will be able to customize your new fireplace based on that model’s options.
Fireplace doors or fireplace face
With a wood-burning or pellet stove, you will be able to select which doors you want to outfit your fireplace with. On a gas or electric fireplace, you will be able to customize the look of your fireplace face. Choose from simple, classic lines; ornate designs; or sleek, modern styles.
Venting and operating accessories
In the Firebuilder App, you also will be able to choose the options that customize the workings of your fireplace. Based on the model of the fireplace you choose, the app will show you the varies technical options available for your fireplace. This could mean adding blowers to your wood-burning fireplace or adding a wall control panel to your gas fireplace. Nearly all models will have you select the type of venting you prefer for your new fireplace.
Mantel
No hearth would be complete without a mantel. Whether you prefer a modern and sleek concrete mantel or a rustic wood-hewn mantel, the Chimney Care Co. has the perfect mantel for finishing of your new fireplace. In the Firebuilder App, you will get to see what your ideal mantel looks over your custom fireplace.
With the Chimney Care Co.’s Firebuilder App, you can design your own custom fireplace! The app will walk you through all of the options for your new fireplace and allow you to preview the finished product. Visit our website to get started today!