Sat, 11 Apr 2020 07:18:29 -0700WeeblyMon, 10 Aug 2015 04:49:56 GMThttp://danecountyhandyman.com/the-handy-blog/cleaning-dryer-ventsClogged dryer vents result in over 15,000 fires a year.

It is recommended you have your dryer vent inspected and cleaned every year and the dryer itself should be pulled apart and cleaned every 1-3 years depending on use by an appliance service technician. We clean vents in Madison and the Dane County area.

Here are 5 indicators that it might be time for a dryer vent cleaning:

1. The drying time for clothes takes longer then it used to. A plugged vent line can double the time it takes for clothes to dry.

2. Your clothes and the outside of the dryer are very hot. If the vent is plugged the dryer builds up internal heat and the heat dissipates off the dryer surface resulting in a very hot surface.

3. You notice a burning smell when the dryer is running. Lint is very flammable and as the dryer has to run hotter with a plugged vent line the link can smolder until it catches fire, so the burning smell could be an early indicator.

4. You notice the exterior exhaust cover barely opens when the dryer is running. A dryer at full capacity will push the dryer vent wide open at the exterior of the home and you should feel a good amount of warm/hot air blowing out.

5. You can't remember the last time you had the dryer vent cleaned. It is recommend that it be done yearly, but it depends on usage, length of dryer vent pipe, type of pipe, condition of your dryer filter, number of people in your home, amount of use, and more. A house of 6 people with cats and dogs might need it done every 6 months, a single person with no pets might be every two years.

Some safety tips:

1. Do not use your dryer without the lint filter installed.

2. Use as much solid metal pipe as possible, no flimsy flexible vinyl/plastic piping. Flexible metal pipe is OK, but the grooves in the flex catches more lint than smooth pipe. Do not attached pipe sections with screws as these can catch lint.
 
3. Do not run the dryer when you go to bed or leave the home.

4. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of obstructions.

5. Check and clean your lint filter after each use.

6. Be careful of the type of fabric softener sheets you use, some will actually create a wax film on the lint filter not allowing the dryer to run efficiently. You can test yours by running water on the lint filter. If the water flows through, no problem, if it pools on the filter, stop using the sheets and wash the filter gently with soap and a soft brush until the film is removed.

]]>Mon, 10 Aug 2015 04:08:48 GMThttp://danecountyhandyman.com/the-handy-blog/hvac-contractorsIn Madison, WI and the Dane County area we only do simple things like filter changes and can clean out your dryer vents which are a source for home fires when they become plugged with lint. I highly recommend you have your dryer vents checked and cleaned and read my post about dryer vents. If you need a new furnace, A/C system, addition, remodel, or new construction you'll want to hire a licensed HVAC professional.

Just like Plumbing and Electrical contractors, HVAC contractors are required to be licensed by Wisconsin and I would only hire those that are licensed. Again, just like my other posts a licensed shop can send out non-licensed employees to do the work, and again, I have no problem with it, I just want the teacher around. You are probably going to pay good money to have a new furnace installed and it's fine to have a new person do the work, just make sure work is checked over by the seasoned employee. In some cases, the new guys are better as they are more careful doing their work so they don't want to make a mistake and double check as they go.

Again, you can run into the problem of the HVAC tech installing his own electrical, the guy might know what he is doing, and odds are he does, but you are paying to have a licensed electrician do the work, so why not ask for one.

I recommend you hire a contractor for one problem and a different contractor for the other problem to avoid these types of conflicts, or verify if separate people will show up.

The other insurance policy you'll want is to check if a building permit is needed for the work you are having done, and then make sure you get an inspection done when the work is finished. The other advantage to doing this is the multi-trades contractor will be more likely to send the proper guys out for each portion when they know permits are needed. At a bare minimum the work will get inspected/checked to make sure it complies with code.

If you have a big HVAC project give us a call and we'll see if we can help. If not, we'll recommend a couple people to call.]]>Mon, 10 Aug 2015 03:42:54 GMThttp://danecountyhandyman.com/the-handy-blog/plumbersIn Madison, WI and the Dane County area we can handle minor plumbing, but when it comes to the big items such as water heaters, additions, remodels, and new construction you'll want to hire a licensed plumber. 

However, not all plumbing contractors are the same. Just like my post for electricians when you hire a plumbing contractor to work on your big project make sure they are licensed and make sure the person they send to your home is licensed. Some contractors will send non-licensed plumbers to work on your project so they gain experience, which is fine, but look for a break in the price if this is the case, or make sure a licensed plumber is on the site as well.

I have no problems with someone learning, we all started somewhere, I just want the teacher there as well. Wisconsin law requires a Master Plumber be responsible for the work, the problem is there is a way to get around the law. A shop can hire a Master Plumber and use his license to pull permits and have non-licensed employees do the work, which, again, is fine as employees need to learn. However, this can be abused by some shops as they have employees do work they are not trained for or have no desire to learn. For example, you could have a multi-trade Plumbing and Electrical contractor where the plumber might be installing his own electrical under the Master's license working for the contractor. The guy might know what he is doing, and odds are he does, but you are paying to have a licensed electrician do the work, so why not ask for one.

I recommend you hire a contractor for one problem and a different contractor for the other problem to avoid these types of conflicts, or verify if separate people will show up.

The other insurance policy you'll want is to check if a plumbing permit is needed for the work you are having done, and then make sure you get an inspection done when the work is finished. The other advantage to doing this is the multi-trades contractor will be more likely to send the proper guys out for each portion when they know permits are needed. At a bare minimum the work will get inspected/checked to make sure it complies with code.

If you have a big plumbing project give us a call and we'll see if we can help. If not, we'll recommend a couple people to call.]]>Fri, 07 Aug 2015 02:37:05 GMThttp://danecountyhandyman.com/the-handy-blog/electriciansIn Madison, WI and the Dane County area we can handle minor electrical, but when it comes to the big items such as service upgrades, additions, remodels, and new construction you'll want to hire a licensed electrician. 

However, not all electrical contractors are the same. When you hire an electrical contractor to work on your big project make sure they are licensed and make sure the person they send to your home is licensed. Some contractors will send non-licensed electricians to work on your project so they gain experience, which is fine, but look for a break in the price if this is the case, or make sure a licensed electrician is on the site as well.

I have no problems with someone learning, we all started somewhere, I just want the teacher there as well. Wisconsin law requires a Master Electrician be responsible for the work, the problem is there is a way to get around the law. A shop can hire a Master Electrician and use his license to pull permits and have non-licensed employees do the work, which, again, is fine as employees need to learn. However, this can be abused by some shops as they have employees do work they are not trained for or have no desire to learn. For example, you could have a multi-trade HVAC and Electrical contractor where the heating tech might be installing his own electrical under the Master's license working for the contractor. The guy might know what he is doing, and odds are he does, but you are paying to have a licensed electrician do the work, so why not ask for one.

I recommend you hire a contractor for one problem and a different contractor for the other problem to avoid these types of conflicts, or verify if separate people will show up.

The other insurance policy you'll want is to check if a building permit is needed for the work you are having done, and then make sure you get an inspection done when the work is finished. The other advantage to doing this is the multi-trades contractor will be more likely to send the proper guys out for each portion when they know permits are needed. At a bare minimum the work will get inspected/checked to make sure it complies with code.

If you have a big electrical project give us a call and we'll see if we can help. If not, we'll recommend a couple people to call.]]>