The routine dryer maintenance of your clothes dryer can keep you from having to deal with costly repairs. Knowing what to look for and handling preventive maintenance will keep your dryer running for a good while longer. There are times, however, where you will need to call someone to service your dryer. Before you find yourself in that situation, there are seven easy dryer repair and maintenance tips that will help you keep those costs down. 1. Remove Lint From The Trap Remove the lint from the trap and clean the screen. It is a good rule of thumb to wash the lint screen every three months. The air can flow freely and dry your clothes faster when there is no thick debris and lint stuck in these parts. You don’t want your machine to work too hard trying to get air through. Plus this saves on your electric bill. 2. Do Not Overload Your Dryer Overloading the dryer will cause an increase in your energy bill and also lint. Your clothes will not dry properly and will have a musty odor to them. If that happens you're stuck washing those clothes all over again. Also, when you fill the dryer up beyond capacity, it takes too long to dry. This is because you are making your machine work too hard. In the long run, it will break down. 3. Clean Out The Exhaust Vent This a basic fire prevention method that households should perform every one to two years. Doing this will get all the debris out of the vent. You won’t have to worry about gases building up in the vent which can cause a fire. This would be a costly repair and would result in the loss of your home if left unchecked. 4. Clean The Drum This is the inside of the dryer where your clothes go. Use a small amount of rubbing alcohol to get any foreign residue out. This will prevent stains drying into your garments. Also, that residue can be greasy and will start a fire if it is not cleaned out. Make sure to get any lint that falls into the drum as well. 5. Use Metal Exhaust Vents It is extra important because plastic and vinyl materials can catch on fire, unlike metal. Plastic can melt in very high temperatures. If that happens, it can definitely be a costly dryer vent repair job. Plus metal exhaust vents are easier to clean. 6. Check The Outside Vent Cap Always check the vent cap outside your home. First, replace the plastic vent with metal. If you don’t want any costly moisture problems that can ruin the ceiling in your home, it's important to check that vent. You need to make sure there are no clogs whether the lint is wet or dry. This can be a fire hazard in the making. 7. Investigate Unusual Noises Usually, a well-running clothes dryer is quiet. However, if there are any unusual noises coming from the dryer, you should call a repairman only if you can’t figure out what the problem is yourself. The earlier you get it checked out the better off you will be. Buying a new dryer can definitely be costly. In the event you need your dryer cleaned or repaired, contact HomeSafe . Since 2009, we have has been installing, cleaning, and dryer duct repairs, as well as dryer vent repair. Let HomeSafe take care of all your dryer repairs.

Did you know dryers are one of the leading causes of home fires? Every year, there are more than 15,000 dryer fires across the United States. Most dryer fires are caused by failure in cleaning dryer vent ductwork. Dryer vent is highly flammable and it's even used as tinder to start camp fires. If the lint in your dryer duct is ignited, it can quickly carry the fire throughout your home. 1. Check Your Outside Dryer Vent When your dryer is running, check the outside dryer exhaust vent to make sure hot air is escaping as it should. If you do not feel any air movement, it probably means there is a build-up of lint clogging the outlet. In this case, cleaning dryer vent ductwork is recommended. 2. Clean Your Lint Trap Lint is the most common source of dryer fires. Lint collects inside the dryer cavity near the heating elements where temperatures can reach 550 degrees. Always clean your lint screen before and after every load of laundry. This is the easiest way to reduce the risk of a dryer fire and it takes very little time. You should also wipe down the inside of the dryer to get rid of any extra lint that the screen does not catch. Never run your dryer without the lint trap in place because this will remove the defense against lint building up in more dangerous areas such as the duct or inside the dryer housing. 3. Check Around the Dryer It isn't enough to clean lint from the lint trap and dryer vent; it can also accumulate behind and under the dryer itself. The heat from your dryer while it's running can ignite the lint hidden around the dryer. Make sure the area around your dryer is free of lint and clutter. 4. Understand Fire Safety Codes When your dryer is installed or replaced, it's a good idea to be aware of local fire safety codes to make sure they're followed. The dryer vent should have a diameter of at least 4 inches and as large as the dryer outlet. The exhaust duct coming from your dryer should be a maximum of 25 feet. The shorter the dryer exhaust duct, the lower the risk of fire. The vent should also exhaust outdoors. Surprisingly, many homeowners learn that their dryers vent into an attic, crawl space, or even empty space in the walls instead of outdoors. The fittings should also be secure to keep the exhaust from seeping back into the home. 5. Keep a Working Fire Extinguisher Nearby A fire extinguisher is always a safe addition to your home. Along with adding an extinguisher to your kitchen, it's a good idea to have a fire extinguisher in your laundry room for dryer vent safety. If your dryer or vent catch fire, a working fire extinguisher can stop the fire before it spreads. 6. Don't Leave the House with the Dryer Running Just as you wouldn't leave your home with your oven on, always plan to be home when the dryer is running. Dryers and ovens are the leading causes of appliance-related home fires, and they should never be used without supervision. 7. Use Metal Dryer Ductwork If you have an accordion-style dryer duct, it should be replaced immediately. Flexible or rigid metal ductwork is best because it can sustain proper airflow. Accordion-style ducts trap lint and develop clogs much easier. These outdated ducts are also prone to getting crushed or damaged, even during normal dryer operation. 8. Move Flammable Items Make sure you keep the area around your dryer free of any flammables. Along with lint and dust under and around the appliance, this can also include baskets of clothing, cleaning products, and paint. 9. Don't Put Clothes With Flammable Materials in the Dryer Never put anything in your dryer after it comes in contact with flammable materials like cooking oil or gas. These items can be safely laundered in your washer, but they should never go into the dryer if you can still smell a fuel aroma. Excessive heat in the dryer can cause the fabric to actually ignite. You should also avoid putting anything in your dryer with plastic or rubber. This includes bathroom mats. When plastic or rubber backing gets too hot, it can crack and melt, damaging your dryer and potentially causing a fire. 10. Schedule Regular Dryer Vent Cleaning Your dryer vent requires regular cleaning to remove any blockages that may develop. As lint builds up in the duct inside your wall, it reduces airflow which can cause overheating and a fire. Professional dryer duct cleaning is an affordable and effective way to keep your dryer working efficiently while dramatically reducing your risk of a house fire. Remember: cleaning out your lint trap every time you use your dryer isn't enough to prevent a build-up of lint in your duct that can spark a fire. Want to protect your home and even reduce your energy costs? HomeSafe can help. HomeSafe has been repairing, cleaning, and installing dryer vents in the North Texas area since 2009. Contact HomeSafe Dryer Vent Cleaning today for cost-effective professional dryer vent cleaning .

Without routine maintenance and cleaning dryer vents can become clogged with lint. This can lead to longer drying times for clothes and adds to the potential for the dryer to overheat. Since lint is extremely flammable to added heat could potentially cause a house fire. There are warning signs that your dryer vents need cleaning. 1. Clothing Takes More Than One Normal Cycle to Dry The first warning sign of clogged dryer vents occurs when it takes clothing two and three times the usual time to dry completely. Normal dry times should be around 30 - 45 minutes. Blocked dryer vents can extend drying time because the vents are built to push hot moist air out, but if lint build up is preventing this the clothes will get hot but stay wet longer. This puts a strain on the dryer which could lead to overheating. It could also burn out the heating element in the dryer which leads to costly repairs or the need to purchase a new dryer. A dryer that runs longer than normal also wastes energy and can lead to an increase in the household energy bill. 2. Clothing and the Outside of the Dryer are Hot to the Touch A second warning sign that dryer vents may need attention is the fact that the clothing and the outside of the dryer are both very hot. A dryer with properly functioning vents will not get hot to the touch during a normal cycle. Clothing will be warm, but fluffy and dry at the end of the cycle as well. When clothing is extremely hot and possibly still damp at the end of a normal cycle this indicates a problem. Simply running the dryer through another cycle is not the answer as this can cause the heating element to burn out or worse, the lint in the clogged vent could catch fire. When an unusually large amount of lint is caught in the vent and/or inside the dryer itself, it can easily ignite and cause a major house fire. 3. There is a Burning Smell When Dryer is Running A third warning sign of clogged dryer vents that need immediate attention is a burning smell when the dryer is running. Lint can build up in other parts of the dryer, not just the vent. The exhaust tube, lint trap, and drum casting have build up as well. The burning lint smell can be detected before it causes a major fire and the dryer should be shut off immediately. Call a professional to clean dryer vents and inspect your dryer before you turn it back on. 4. Lint Collects Around Outside Vent Opening A fourth warning sign is lint and debris collecting around the outside vent opening or dryer vent termination. This opening is usually four inches wide and is where the moisture, hot air and lint leaves the house. If there is lint around the opening it is time for dry vent cleaning. If the outside flap does not open while the dryer is running it is an indicator that the air flow is being restricted. A missing outside vent cover can also allow birds to nest in the vent which is also a safety hazard because it is restricting the air flow from the dryer. 5. Lack of Dryer Vent Maintenance The fifth sign of potential trouble can be a lack of these other tale-tell signs. If your home is 8 - 10 years old or older, or if it’s been longer than five or six years since your last cleaning and you haven’t noticed any signs--there could be other serious issues. That’s why we recommend a thorough, professional dryer vent inspection every four or five years. HomeSafe Dryer Vent Cleaning is the professional company you should call for dry vent cleaning as well as repair to your dryer vents. Our company has been improving and installing dryer vents in North Texas since 2009 and our trained staff are experts in cleaning and maintaining all aspects of your dryer vent system. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

Clogged dryer vents are not just an inconvenience, but they can be a safety hazard as well. If your dryer vent isn't cleaned properly it can result in laundry loads that don't dry completely. It can also lead to longer drying times which can drive up your utility bill faster than you may imagine. After all, dryers are one of the most energy-draining appliances in the home. A clean dryer vent will let your machine operate more efficiently, cutting down on the electric bill and ensuring your clothes get dry the first time. Lint buildup can also create a serious fire hazard. Thousands of house fires are started every year as the result of a dryer malfunction. Here are 3 tips to help keep your dryer vents clean, your home safe, and your machine operating at peak efficiency: 1. Maintain the Lint Trap Good dryer maintenance should start with your lint trap. It's important to clean it out between each load whether you think it's necessary or not. Since clothing lint is extremely flammable it's important to avoid any accumulation of the stuff, and the lint trap by design is where most of it gets caught. A blocked dryer vent can also have a negative impact on the movement of air which can decrease your dryer's efficiency. In addition to clearing the trap, it's important to occasionally use a soft brush on the catcher as well. Simply run the brush over the soft mesh of the removable insert to clear out any bits that get stuck there and to remove any residue from dryer sheets that may affect the trap. Don't forget the trap housing too! Most people overlook this part, but it's important to clear the lint out of the housing for the trap as well. Run over this area with a brush as well, using a slight twisting motion to pick up any hard-to-get pieces. A vacuum cleaner can be used to pull the lint out of the brush and to remove any larger lint deposits from the housing. A Lint Alert will let you know when it is time to clean your vents again with flashing lights to indicate the air flow. 2. Keep the Duct Clear When it comes to cleaning a dryer vent, another area that is often overlooked is the dryer duct. If you're keeping your lint trap clear, small particles and bits of lint can get sucked through the mesh trap and get lodged in the hose that leads to the vent. This build up can turn into a fire hazard if it gets out of hand. It can also clog up the vent which will keep the hot air from being properly expelled. This block in airflow is what slows down your dryer's heating speed leading to longer cycles and clothes that never seem to finish drying. Fortunately keeping this duct clean is pretty simple. First, unplug your dryer from the main electrical outlet - this is always an important first step when performing any dryer maintenance. Then pull your dryer out from the wall and disconnect your duct from the dryer and from the wall vent. Remove any clumps of lint by hand and use your brush from earlier to wipe down the parts you can reach. Be sure to check both end of the hose and to remove any lint caught in the wall vent as well. This only needs to be done occasionally. A good way to see if your duct needs clearing is to watch the outside of your wall vent while a cycle is running. If air hot doesn't seem to be flowing from the vent freely then it's probably time for a cleaning 3. Know When to Call a Professional No matter how well maintained your dryer is, it's still a heavily used machine that will eventually need some professional maintenance. Just as cleaning it yourself can prolong the efficiency of your dryer, having it properly inspected and cleaned by a professional can keep it from prematurely breaking down all together. Professionals have more expertise and better equipment and so will be able to clean your dryer vent more thoroughly than you can on your own. You may need to call a professional if you've already done everything to ensure a clean dryer vent, but your machine is still: Not drying clothes properly Taking a long time to complete a cycle Seems to be overly warm on the top Is leaving a bad smell on your clothes after a cycle Is making any strange noises while running If you need a professional to come fix a dryer, perform routine maintenance, or clean a dryer vent , contact HomeSafe Dryer Vent Cleaning. We have been cleaning, repairing, improving and installing dryer vents across North Texas since 2009. Call HomeSafe today for professional dryer vent service!

We serve all of the following Tarrant County Areas including: Arlington, TX Euless, TX Ft. Worth, TX Waxahachie, TX Mansfield, TX Keller, TX Saginaw, TX In Addition we Serve the Following Areas: Collin County Allen Carrollton Dallas Fairview Frisco Garland Lucas McKinney Murphy Parker Plano Prosper Richardson Sachse St. Paul Wylie Denton County Argyle Bartonville Carrollton Copper Canyon Corral City Cross Roads Denton Double Oak Elizabethtown Flower Mound Frisco Hackberry Hebron Highland Village Justin Lake Dallas Lakewood Village Lantana Lewisville Lincoln Park Little Elm Oak Point Roanoke Shady Shores The Colony Trophy Club Westlake Dallas County Addison Balch Springs Carrollton Cedar Hill Cockrell Hill Combine Coppell Dallas DeSoto Duncanville Farmers Branch Garland Glenn Heights Grand Prairie Grapevine Highland Park Hutchins Irving Lancaster Lawson Lewisville Mesquite Ovilla Richardson Rowlett Sachse Sunnyvale University Park Wylie Zacha Junction Tarrant County Arlington Bedford Benbrook Blue Mound Colleyville Crowley Edgecliff Village Euless Everman Flower Mound Forrest Hill Fort Worth Grapevine Haltom City Haslet Hurst Keller Kennedale Lake Worth Mansfield North Richland Hills Pantego Rendon Richland Hills Roanoke Saginaw Sansom Park Southlake Trophy Club Watauga Westlake Westover Hills Westworth Village White Settlement Ellis County Red Oak Waxahachie Johnson County Burleson Lillian Rockwall County Rockwall Areas we Serve WITH fuel charge We service the following areas with a fuel charge, but we make exceptions on fuel charge: Collin County Anna Celina Copeville Lavon Lowry Crossing Melissa Nevada New Hope Priceton Dallas County Seagoville Wilmer Denton County Aubrey Krugerville Krum Northlake Ponder Johnson County Alvarado Joshua Venus Tarrant County Azle Eagle Mountian Pecan Acres Pelican Bay Primrose Parker County Aledo

Laundry day may not be everyone's favorite chore, but it's a necessary one to keep our clothes looking great and feeling fresh. Whether you're a laundry pro or just getting started, these laundry tips will help you achieve cleaner, fresher, and longer-lasting clothes. 1. Sort Smartly The first step to successful laundry is proper sorting. Separate your laundry into three main categories: whites, darks, and colors. This prevents color bleeding and ensures each load gets the right treatment. 2. Check Labels Before tossing clothes into the washer, take a quick look at the care labels. They provide essential information about water temperature, washing cycles, and drying instructions. Following these guidelines will help extend the life of your garments. 3. Measure Detergent Using too much detergent can lead to residue buildup and make your clothes feel less fresh. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the right amount of detergent. For high-efficiency machines, use HE detergent. 4. Mind the Dryer If you use a dryer, clean the lint filter after each load to maintain efficiency and reduce fire risks. Use the appropriate heat setting for your garments—low heat for delicates, medium for most items, and high heat for heavy fabrics. 5. Fold or Hang Immediately Take clothes out of the dryer or off the line promptly to minimize wrinkles. Fold or hang them immediately to keep them looking neat. 6. Clean Your Washer Your washing machine needs cleaning too! Run an empty cycle with vinegar or a specialized washer cleaner to prevent mold and mildew buildup. 7. Avoid Overloading Overloading the washer or dryer can lead to uneven cleaning and longer drying times. Follow the machine's capacity recommendations. 8. Rotate Your Wardrobe Give your favorite pieces a break by rotating your wardrobe. This reduces wear and tear on specific items, extending their lifespan. 9. Empty Pockets Check pockets for loose items like coins, keys, or tissues. These can cause damage to both your clothes and the machine. 10. Establish a Laundry Routine Create a regular laundry schedule to avoid getting overwhelmed by piles of dirty clothes. This makes the process more manageable and less time-consuming. By incorporating these laundry tips into your routine, you'll not only keep your clothes looking and smelling fresh but also extend their lifespan. We also have tons of tips on how to extend the life of your dryer and keep your clothes drying efficiently and safely. Along with cleaning the lint filter after each use, you should also be getting your dryer vent system cleaned regularly. When drying clothes, the water and fibers that are in your dryer load need to exit somewhere. Over time, buildup in the pipes of your dryer vent system can become clogged, reducing your dryer's efficiency as well as presenting a potential safety hazard. Make an appointment with Homesafe Solutions today to have us come take a look at your system and provide maintenance or cleaning to keep it in tip-top shape! Schedule online to save 10% off your cleaning.  Happy laundering!