A single load of laundry is running through two cycles in your dryer? Or perhaps when you put some heat on in the pellet stove there is a bit more dust about, or you can make out a faint burning odour. Then there is the matter of what maintenance to see to before the Black Hills are hit with the first cold weather in earnest.
Homeowners put those very questions to us at Hay Camp Mechanical come fall time. We are a Box Elder, SD operation and our service area covers Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Blackhawk, Hermosa, Custer and other towns in the region. Should you prefer to have a licensed and insured team do the work, we can be reached at (605) 307-7555. For those who like to know how things work and put their own hands to it, read on.
The Case for Doing It in the Fall
Winter does not come gently to the Black Hills; you will be having a mild afternoon one day and the next you are at the windshield with an ice scraper. The abruptness of it all makes fall the time to put your dryer vent and pellet stove in order.
Lint in the dryer vent, ash and creosote in the stove: these are the common enemies of both systems. Left to their own devices over a protracted winter they will be an efficiency issue or a fire hazard. A modicum of attention now is well worth it.
Telltale Signs from Your Dryer Vent
It is easy for trouble to go unnoticed with a dryer vent given how unobtrusively it operates. You will know if something is amiss by any of the following:
- Damp clothes that require another cycle
- A hot exterior on the dryer while it is in use
- Musty or burning scents in the laundry room
- An overabundance of lint in the trap
- The flap on the outside vent not opening as it should
- Over a year has passed since it was last cleaned
When the vent is clogged the appliance has to put in more effort, wasting energy and wearing it down. On top of that, accumulated lint is a prime cause of house fires, a risk best not taken in a Black Hills winter with the dryer in constant use.
Some Upkeep You Can Do
There is no reason you cannot do the basics:
- Make a habit of cleaning the lint screen after each load
- See to the outside vent flap and remove any debris, leaves or snow
- Give the space behind the dryer a wipe to get at the dust
- Be on the lookout for kinks in the flexible duct
The deeper part of the vent line is where the worst of the buildup is and it is not easily accessible. A vacuum in the laundry room will not get at the lint packed in the ductwork. Our team offers professional cleaning and replacement as an add on for such occasions.
Getting Your Pellet Stove in Shape
For all the steady, efficient heat they give off, pellet stoves are a favourite in the Hills. They will only remain efficient if they are clean though. Residue in the form of ash in the burn pot, pan and heat exchanger means the stove has to labour for its warmth.
An adequate fall cleaning will include:
- Inspecting the burn pot and emptying it of hard residue
- The ash pan and firebox
- Surfaces of the heat exchanger
- Any blockages or creosote in the venting
- A check of the glass and door gasket to be sure of a seal
- Running the auger and hopper to ensure the pellets flow
You will have a stove that is safer and runs hotter on fewer pellets all winter. If you have not had a look at the venting yourself, let a trained tech from us handle the cleaning.
Hay Camp Mechanical
We are proud to be of service to the community that gave us our name, the original 1876 camp that became Rapid City. We are open 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday and provide free estimates. As a licensed and insured company we also have a 10% discount for military, veterans, first responders and homeschool families. Beyond dryer vents and pellet stoves, we can also handle your heating maintenance before the season turns.
Make the call to (605) 307-7555 and be certain your home is in good order for the winter rather than waiting for a cold morning to discover a clog.