House Fire Preventation Reminder
- lowfog01
- Member
- Posts: 3889
- Joined: Sat. Dec. 20, 2008 8:33 am
- Location: Springfield, VA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Mark II & Mark I
- Coal Size/Type: nut/pea
Hi Gang,
A quick note to pass along a house fire prevention reminder. As many of you know I am visiting with my elderly parents this month and doing odd jobs around their house. I discovered that the dryer vent wasn't hooked up to the dryer at all; it was just laying against the dryer. Some exhaust was getting through but mostly not, there was a large build up of lint behind the machine. While I was fixing that, I decided to "blow" the rest of the length of vent pipe; my parents hadn't had it done in the 12 years they've been here and I doubt the previous owner had either. I discovered that the pipe had come apart in the crawl space so what exhaust was getting through was dumping there. The pipe after the break was completely blocked. Mom told me she noticed 3 or 4 years ago that nothing was coming out that vent. A quick trip to the HD and a bribe to my niece and nephew (a trip to DQ) to do the work under the house and the venting was all replaced.
I urge everyone to take a minute and think about the last time you checked the venting on your dryer. If it's been a while check it out and use the leaf blower to 'blow" it out. It won't take a minute but it may prevent a house fire. Have a great day, Lisa
A quick note to pass along a house fire prevention reminder. As many of you know I am visiting with my elderly parents this month and doing odd jobs around their house. I discovered that the dryer vent wasn't hooked up to the dryer at all; it was just laying against the dryer. Some exhaust was getting through but mostly not, there was a large build up of lint behind the machine. While I was fixing that, I decided to "blow" the rest of the length of vent pipe; my parents hadn't had it done in the 12 years they've been here and I doubt the previous owner had either. I discovered that the pipe had come apart in the crawl space so what exhaust was getting through was dumping there. The pipe after the break was completely blocked. Mom told me she noticed 3 or 4 years ago that nothing was coming out that vent. A quick trip to the HD and a bribe to my niece and nephew (a trip to DQ) to do the work under the house and the venting was all replaced.
I urge everyone to take a minute and think about the last time you checked the venting on your dryer. If it's been a while check it out and use the leaf blower to 'blow" it out. It won't take a minute but it may prevent a house fire. Have a great day, Lisa
- CoalHeat
- Member
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
Moved this to the Coffee House for better visibility.
A good reminder, thanks, Lisa. Here my dryer is against an outside wall, I have 2 elbows and a short piece of rigid metal vent pipe, that's it. However at my mom's there is a long run of flex from the dryer to the outside vent, I'm going to check it.
A good reminder, thanks, Lisa. Here my dryer is against an outside wall, I have 2 elbows and a short piece of rigid metal vent pipe, that's it. However at my mom's there is a long run of flex from the dryer to the outside vent, I'm going to check it.
- steamup
- Member
- Posts: 1209
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 03, 2008 12:13 pm
- Location: Napoli, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman-Anderson AA-130, Keystoker K-6
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: HS Tarm 502 Wood/Coal/Oil
- Coal Size/Type: pea, buck, rice
Good point Lisa,
On a annual basis, dryer fires exceed chimney fires in some years. Failure to clean is the leading cause of dryer fires.
Here are some facts for consideration:
On a annual basis, dryer fires exceed chimney fires in some years. Failure to clean is the leading cause of dryer fires.
Here are some facts for consideration:
- sterling40man
- Member
- Posts: 1645
- Joined: Sat. May. 03, 2008 11:52 am
- Location: Northern Maine
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker K6
Thanks for the heads up Lisa! I usually check mine every other year. I may have to do it anually fom now on. Better to be safe than sorry.
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30292
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Thanx Lisa, safety info is always appreciated My dryer has a 3' run of plastic/vinyl flex to the outside wall & I am constantly feeling it for build-up--I figure I made it through the Nam, I'll be damned if I'm going to let the dryer 86 me.
- SMITTY
- Member
- Posts: 12496
- Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
- Location: West-Central Mass
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
- Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
- Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler
Great tip - ESPECIALLY if you have a gas dryer. Those SOB's will burn your house down if not cleaned regularly. I've seen glowing embers coming out the back of one before!
Recently I completely dismantled & cleaned my now 8 year old Maytag dryer which was starting to get squeaky. Fixed some gaskets that had shifted out of place & were hanging inside the drum. Cleaned ALOT of stuck lint out of this thing. Also cleaned off all the safety switches in there - the overtemp ones in particular. Don't want those insulated with lint.
Recently I completely dismantled & cleaned my now 8 year old Maytag dryer which was starting to get squeaky. Fixed some gaskets that had shifted out of place & were hanging inside the drum. Cleaned ALOT of stuck lint out of this thing. Also cleaned off all the safety switches in there - the overtemp ones in particular. Don't want those insulated with lint.
- AA130FIREMAN
- Member
- Posts: 1954
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 28, 2009 4:13 pm
Now I know why the Maytag repairman is so lonely, you are taking all the work away from him.SMITTY wrote:Recently I completely dismantled & cleaned my now 8 year old Maytag dryer which was starting to get squeaky.
- SMITTY
- Member
- Posts: 12496
- Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
- Location: West-Central Mass
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
- Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
- Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler
You bet!nortcan wrote: Now I know why the Maytag repairman is so lonely, you are taking all the work away from him.
A little grease on those rollers & it ended up more quiet than when it was new. I can't believe it ran 8 years without a drop of grease in there. That was the source of the squeak ...squeak ... squeak with every revolution of the drum.
- Freddy
- Member
- Posts: 7292
- Joined: Fri. Apr. 11, 2008 2:54 pm
- Location: Orrington, Maine
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 130 (pea)
- Coal Size/Type: Pea size, Superior, deep mined
Oh, great.... another thing to do this weekend.
Good tip Lisa. I have a long run, about 20 feet of dryer pipe on a gas dryer. It is solid pipe but I will open it up & give 'er a check. Thanks!
Smitty... I did a maintenance on my dryer a couple of years ago. It needed nothing, but I figured after 18 years it might enjoy new rollers & a new belt. I'm hoping it's good to go for another 18. (It's a Whirlpool)
Good tip Lisa. I have a long run, about 20 feet of dryer pipe on a gas dryer. It is solid pipe but I will open it up & give 'er a check. Thanks!
Smitty... I did a maintenance on my dryer a couple of years ago. It needed nothing, but I figured after 18 years it might enjoy new rollers & a new belt. I'm hoping it's good to go for another 18. (It's a Whirlpool)
- Poconoeagle
- Member
- Posts: 6397
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 08, 2008 7:26 pm
- Location: Tobyhanna PA
the "pre-vented" whirlpool!!!!