CANTON, Mich. - October 30, 2006 - The chilly fall and winter seasons place extra demands on clothes dryers because a wider variety of bulky clothing needs to be dried, and line-drying is rarely possible. Chris Hall, president of RepairClinic.com®, has some essential advice for consumers.

"Lint build-up means the dryer has to work harder, and can also pose a dangerous fire risk," says Hall, whose company, RepairClinic.com, provides consumers with the information and parts they need to fix their appliances. "Dryers are really quite simple appliances and most consumers can comfortably conduct routine maintenance that will reduce their energy bills and prevent dryer fires."

Why lint matters
- Dryers depend on heat and good airflow to remove moisture from clothes. When lint accumulates in the exhaust duct or the dryer's internal ducts, the dryer cannot dry clothes efficiently. A dryer that runs twice as long uses twice as much energy.

- Longer cycle times can shorten the life of the dryer by causing unnecessary wear and tear on the dryer's mechanics.

- Worse, clothes that tumble twice as long suffer unnecessary wear and tear.

- Finally, who wants to wait longer for the dryer? An inefficient dryer means the already unpleasant task of doing laundry will take much longer.

Dryers, lint and fire risks
- Lint build-up in the exhaust duct can catch fire. Many house fires are caused this way.

- Additionally, if the exhaust duct is clogged, lint tends to bypass the duct and end up inside the dryer cabinet, creating another, more serious, fire hazard.

- Gas dryers with a clogged vent can allow dangerous carbon monoxide into the house.

RepairClinic's easy lint-busting maintenance regimen
- Clean the lint filter after each load. From time to time, use a soft bristle brush and hot, soapy water. If the filter is torn or remains plugged even after cleaning, replace it.

- Clean the dryer exhaust duct at least once a year (more often if you dry more than six loads of laundry each week, or if your dryer's duct is longer than 8-10 feet, or has more than three or four 90-degree bends). Begin at the dryer and clean all the way to the outside vent cap. Tip: straight-walled venting allows better air flow than flexible venting, so for longer runs, straight-walled venting is recommended.

- Use a specially designed and inexpensive vent brush to clean ducting. It's available in 10- and 20- foot lengths, starting at around $20. Click here.

Many more tips and expert repair advice available online
Cleaning tips, maintenance instructions, parts and cleaning supplies for these projects and more can all be found at RepairClinic.com. Consumers can ask the RepairGuru, RepairClinic's online help wizard, for assistance with most every major appliance repair question.