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Black Goose

Black Goose

Chimney Sweep | Williamsburg, Yorktown, Newport News, & Hampton

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Dryer Vent Maintenance

 

Did you know that dryer vents are a leading cause of residential fires in the United States? According to the National Fire Protection Association, dryer fires cause an estimated $200 million in property damage each year. The good news is that this problem can easily be avoided by having your dryer vent professionally inspected and cleaned on a regular basis. In this post, we will discuss risk factors for dryer vent fires, how to tell if you are due for an inspection and cleaning, and simple tips to make sure your dryer is running as safely and efficiently as possible! Read on to learn more about dryer exhaust safety.

To begin, let’s review the basic parts of your dryer exhaust system. The part you are likely most familiar with is your dryer itself, an electric or gas appliance that heats up and forces air through the drum to dry your clothes. As fabric is tumbled in the dryer, it sheds small fibers which become trapped in the dryer vent. The first line of defense is your lint filter, the part that you pull out and clean lint from – and if you are not doing this every time you dry a load of clothes, you should get in the habit! A full lint trap reduces the airflow and efficiency of the dryer, making you run the load two or three times before it is fully dry.

After the air passes through the lint trap, it is blown into the tubing that you see come out of the back or side of the dryer itself. This is called the transition duct and usually connects to a different pipe as it passes through the wall or floor. This second pipe is called the vent pipe or exhaust duct and transports the air from the transition duct to where it vents outside the home, usually from a covered termination on an exterior wall. Your exhaust duct may be made of aluminum foil, rigid or semi-rigid metal, plastic, or vinyl. All of these materials have their benefits and drawbacks, but the safest option is the one that has the least risk of lint buildup in interior nooks and crannies and the least likelihood of damage during cleaning. The only material that meets these standards and is approved and required by building codes is rigid metal. All the other materials are corrugated, tend to trap lint, and may be torn during sweeping.

We are used to seeing lint just in the filter, but small particles pass through and get caught in the dryer exhaust itself. Over time, this lint can build up and create a blockage in the vent. This blockage not only reduces the efficiency of your dryer, but increases your risk of dryer vent fires. When flammable material, such as dryer lint, is heated and cooled repeatedly, it undergoes a process called pyrolysis which drastically lowers the ignition point – the temperature at which something will catch fire. That means that even without a spark, dry flammable material in your dryer vent may ignite just from the high temperatures at which your dryer functions.

As lint escapes the trap and gets caught in the duct, it can also make its way into other parts of the dryer such as the heating element. This cannot be seen by just inspecting what is visible when looking at your dryer from the outside – that’s why it’s so important to have your dryer inspected by an appliance repair professional.

But how do you know when it is time to have someone look things over, and what will they be doing that you can’t do yourself? According to the National Fire Protection Association, your dryer vent inspection should be done at least once a year, but if you dry multiple loads of laundry each day or notice any of the following signs, it’s time to call for help:

  • Your clothes are taking longer than usual to dry or you have to run your clothes for more than one cycle. A buildup of lint can prevent air from flowing properly, trapping moisture in your clothes even while the dryer is running and causing clothes to need to be cycled through two and three times. Not only is this hard on your clothes, but it runs up your energy bill!
  • Your dryer is hot to the touch after running or your laundry room seems unusually warm. Again, if the air cannot flow properly through the vent to the outside, the heat it carries will build up in the room or in the appliance itself. Dryer overheating is also dangerous if there is any lint buildup inside the dryer itself, as lint is very flammable and can ignite without a spark.
  • Your clothes smell musty after being removed from the dryer. The moisture that is not being vented to outside the home will remain in your clothes, causing a mildew or musty smell in clothes that are freshly washed. You also may note higher levels of humidity in your laundry area.
  • Lint is built up on the termination/vent hood on the exterior of your home. The place where the air comes out of the house to the outside, usually plastic that has either flaps or a grid-style pest guard, is called the termination or vent hood. If you can see lint built up on the flaps or the grid, it usually means that there is also a dangerous buildup inside the duct.

Dryer Vent Maintenance

If you see any of the above signs, do not hesitate to call us to schedule an inspection of your dryer vent system. We start by taking a reading of back pressure behind the dryer using a magnahelic gage and taking a reading of air flow velocity at the termination using a vane anemometer. These two reading will show if a sweeping is needed. A second set of reading will be taken after the sweeping. This will show you before and after numbers, plus the second set of readings will act as a baseline for your next annual inspection.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) administers the oldest and most widely recognized certification program – Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician (C-DET). More information is available at www.DryerSafety.org.

Residential clothes dryers cause a staggering 16,000 house fires every year, and these are just the reported ones! The leading cause of dryer fires is a failure to clean the dryer and vent properly. Don’t become a statistic – a simple inspection is a crucial step to keeping you and your loved ones safe.

What can you do to keep your dryer running in top shape in between inspections? The first and easiest is to always keep the lint filter clean and clear. Emptying lint out of the filter after each load is an important step, but did you know that dryer sheets and fabric softeners can leave invisible residue on the screen? An easy way to check this is to take your lint filter to the sink and try to run water through it. If the water runs through easily, your filter is still in good shape! If it beads up on the screen or seeps through, scrub your filter with dish soap and a brush to remove the buildup.

It is also important to not overload your dryer. A load that is too big will not only tax the dryer and take longer to get dry, but will also deposit more lint than normal in the filter. This can lead to lint escaping the filter and building up in the duct and in the dryer itself.

Check your vent hood periodically for lint buildup, and check while the dryer is running to make sure that there is good, steady airflow coming from the vent. Low, slow, or unsteady airflow may be a sign of a blocked duct.

Don’t store anything on top of the dryer itself; items on top of the dryer can trap heat, causing buildup inside the appliance and a higher risk of any lint inside the dryer igniting.

And finally, do not run the dryer while you are not home or while you are asleep. If something in the dryer does ignite, minutes can make a difference between a fire that is controllable and one that will destroy your home. Always run your dryer when you are awake and home to keep an eye on your laundry!

At Black Goose Chimney, we understand the importance of dryer vent safety and are dedicated to helping keep your home safe from fire hazards. All our crew leaders are C-DET Certified. We offer dryer vent inspections, sweeping, and repair services to homeowners. Contact us today to schedule your inspection!

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Google Rating
4.2
Based on 54 reviews
Black Goose Chimney
Black Goose Chimney
4.2
Bill McCoy
If I could give negative stars I would! These guys jerked my 80 year old mother around during Christmas when it was freezing. Someone told Mom to call these guys because the furnace was venting into the basement. A dude looking like Bob Marley shows up and says he can't fix it or even look at it because we have slate roof and they need special equipment to get up there. Ok. I get it. When can you come back? Someone will call you. No. No one called me. I called the next week. By this time mom had to sleep downstairs in front of fireplace to stay warm. I called. Dude on phone said he didn't know anything about it but would get back to me day after New Years. He didn't. I called again on Wednesday. No one answered. I left a message. Nothing.
Dorethea Johnson
They attempted to charge me an absorbent amount for money a fireplace chain cover. They qouted a me the price for it. They didn't have it in stock. When It came in. They had changed the price by more than double.
Kyle Russell
I seen a employee hit another vehicle on 64 and keep driving. Wouldn't want that integrity working at my house.
William Chandler
Very professional and thorough.
Jory Morrison
Frances McCoy-Brown
From the person answering the phone and scheduling my appointment. To the two men who came out and did a chimney check were very courteous and professional. I was provided with information that would help me make an informed decision. There was no hard sell ! I would recommend them.
Yvonne Richardson
Had my chimney and firebox repaired. they did the work in very reasonable time and did a very good job. Were on time and were respectful, courteous and professional. Cleaned up nicely also. The lady in the office was very friendly and helpful.
Fran Spady
The gentlemen were professional and left my home clean. They were thorough in their inspection and answered our questions. They took pictures so we could see repairs. He wrote up more than one bid so we could take care of the necessities first. There was no hard sell or pushing to purchase.Thank you Black Goose. I have a new chimney sweep!
Bridget Sims
Brian Lucas
I paid them to perform a diagnostic on my gas logs that were not lighting. The Tech determined I have a faulty valve and told me the office would look up the part and send me a quote to replace it. That was nearly three months ago. I called the office twice during that time to remind them and got the run-around. Don’t waste your time on this company.
Amanda Wroten
Ken Nelson
Pauretta Banks
Love my fire place! They did a great job and made sure I was satisfied before they left.
Wayne Sears
Tom Jowers
High prices but as the old saying goes "you get what you pay for." In this case, quality service.
John Sims
This company helped fix our chimney after a very scary fire we had. Great quality work and very professional crew
Pamela Mason
Black Goose Chimney did a superb job for us. Their technician Joe is a pleasure to work with and is not only professional and polite, but does fantastic work! On time, great workmanship and a pleasure to work with - what more can you ask for. I would recommend BlacK Goose Chimney to anyone.
Deborah Hill
Michael Chase
What a great team. Highly professional, knowledgable and no nonsense tell it like it is workers. Sergey is a master brick layer and technician. I will not use anyone else when it comes to brick and chimney work.The owner, Jim and Kathy, front office, are absolutely great to work with. I highly reccommend this company.
William Marx
The terracota liner to the oil boiler had broken after 50 years. Jim came out and gave an estimate and managed to promptly get a crew here on a Saturday to replace it with a steel liner. The crew, Sergei and Michael, arrived on time and were quite polite, efficient and neat. The left the house in better shape than when they arrived. They took care that the 5 month old puppy was kept away from the repair materials. Michael went so far as to clear the entire roof of pine needles, not just the area he was working. Greatly appreciated. They truly went the extra mile!
Selina Tyler
James Simone
Wanted to charge a $99.00 service call for an estimate. Other companies came for free
Sean B
Don Lovis
They came out to do a dryer vent sweep. They quoted me 800.00 labor for 2 hours to fix one dryer pipe 10 ft long. Hired another company and charged 75.00. I will never use them again
Anthony Cronin
Very ProfessionalShared Concern To Apply Money To Return Maximum Value With Highest Quality!
Wayne Booth
Called today to schedule cleaning two chimneys. The price they quoted was more than double other places I called. And they were booked out three weeks. The company I scheduled with was six weeks out. It was worth the wait.
Peter Henrie
Very disappointed with my experience with this company. I called to get a quote for a gas stove installed. They sent their employee who charged me $100 to quote me, this wasn't told to me on the initial call, only at the end of the onsite visit to quote. I was told it would be removed from cost of the installation however they were unresponsive to calls and emails multiple times afterwards that I gave up moving forward with them. Would sadly not recommend.
billd354
Used this company about 6 or 7 years ago for a new crown and mortar joint work. Felt they did a good job. Tried to get them to do more work, however after sending me a confirmation phone call that they would be there, they cancelled at the last minute. They did call me and tell me that a person called in sick, so I asked if the next time I schedule that they guarantee no matter what, they meet their appointment obligations. The person would not and so other person called me back, who also would not. They obviously gave preferential treatment to some customers, because they didn't get cancelled. This person told me a different story, that the person was in a car accident the previous day. Then why didn't they call me first thing in the morning? This person also would not guarantee that they would definitely be there on the reschedule. If you live on the southside, you can expect to be the first to be cancelled. Which was it? Sick, car accident, or just didn't want to drive through the tunnel because both people I talked to wanted to give me to their competitors.
Chris Burrell
The guys that came to the house were great!! Highly recommend!!!
Nikki Edgerton
Tim Pratt
Jerry Fortner
Enjoying another early season fire watching football thanks to Blue Goose Chimney. Great system been years we have been able to enjoy our fireplace!Jerry FortnerPoquoson, VA
I C
Barry Hughes
Very frustrated in dealing with the office of this business. My chimney inspection was completed on the 18th of October and I called last week and then sent an email and kristin responded on the 11th of November and said she would have something by the 13th. It's now the 15th and nothing. Not right at all.if you can't
kathryn howard
I have used Black Goose for over 15 years. I needed serious work to our fireplace and chimney which they took care of and they have been out to inspect and or sweep every year since. They are always timely and fair. They only sweep about every other year so I'm not charged a sweep, it's based on how much we have used the fireplace. We have had no problems at all since the repair and I only have them to thank.
Rhonda Saunders
These guys are very professional and they know there stuff. Very honest and trustworthy
Wesley Stilson
Great service. Sergey and his helper showed up during the allotted time. They did a full inspection of my wood stove to ensure it was installed correctly to code. they did a full borescope inspection of the stove pipe and chimney pipe and found one sheet metal screw that was installed incorrectly. they fixed it and did a full sweep. They cleaned up their mess and provided me input on when to have them back for another sweep. Top notch service. They will not disappoint.
Eric Marsalis
Marilyn Keener
I highly recommend Black Goose Chimney. They arrived on time and did an excellent cleaning job. I found them to be very knowledgeable and professional. I would not hesitate to use them again.
Jeffrey Sheffield
Trustworthy, prompt, and professional. Couldn't ask for a better experience.
Adam Russell
Expert technicians, receptionists needs some work though. Completely satisfied all the same.
Ellen Charles
We had a knowledgeable chimney sweep come and inspect our fireplace and chimney. We knew that our fireplace had a bad back wall and knew there maybe some problems with the chimney. He explained what needed to be done and the cost. They had two very nice guys come and do the repairs. They worked well together and cleaned up afterwards. They showed my husband pictures of what they did to the chimney. From the time I called setup an appointment and the work being completed was about 8 days.
Jeff Prunier
The team at Black Goose Chimney took care of my fireplace and my wood stove with courtesy and professionalism! I highly recommend them. Not only did they put a new chimney cap on and replace the mortar, they answered all my questions and made sure I was confident in preparing a fire. Don't delay, call today!
Mike Levering (Throls)
I had an appointment window of 1:30 to 3:30. At 3:40 I called them asking for an ETA . The receptionist stated that a technician had installed the cap first thing in the morning. I explained to receptionist that was impossible since no one from Black Goose had been to my home. After some back and forth the receptionist stated she would have to see the pictures of the job and would get back to me the following day. I received a phone call the following day and was informed the chimney sweep installed the cap on the wrong house.This review would not have been necessary if Black Goose had been more proactive in addressing my concerns since there was still time in the day to put on the cap or at least offered to compensate me for my lost time. Perhaps they were just having a bad day and my experience with their service was just a fluke. Unfortunately their bad day cost me my afternoon. I strongly recommend you look elsewhere for your chimney needs.TL;DR: They put the cap on the wrong house.
Skyler Yugo
Nice crew, honest about condition of our chimney, quick work and reasonably priced.
Cody Stickle
Patty from Black Goose is the best!
Heather Westmoreland
The fellows at Black Goose are very friendly and professional. They give you their honest opinion even if means that they won't get any work from it. I've had them come out for two years in a row and I feel confident with their services.
Kim Enroughty
I know nothing about chimneys so I was reluctant to call someone for an inspection. I couldn't be more pleased with the service I received from Black Goose Chimney Sweep. John was very professional and answered all my questions. I feel confident that I will call them again for one of their many other services.
Christopher Costa
I have been organizing the annual dryer vent cleaning for my 13 unit Condo Association for the past 3 years! I have not been satisfied with the service from the past two companies so I contacted Black Goose Chimney. I am so happy that I did. The service was complete and professional in every way. Patty and Ike drove out to Virginia Beach to look at the job ahead of time. We split it into two days so that they would have enough time to service each unit properly. We chose a weekday and a Saturday. The crew who came on Tuesday were Ryan, Jesse and Sergey. They were very courteous and thorough. They recorded air flow readings before and after service and provided a receipt with all of the info. They cleaned each vent from inside and outside, protected floors and cleaned up after themselves. I'm not sure who the crew was on Saturday but I have not heard any complaints so I am confident that all went well!I will definately call Black Goose again next year!
John Pierce
Ryan M. and Jessie came out to inspect 9 fireplaces for a local Girl Scout camp. I asked a lot of questions and Ryan was more than willing to take his time and explain everything to me that I wanted to know. He is very knowledgeable, friendly and thorough. Thanks Black Goose!
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