Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Dryer Vent Alert

 "Little Fire Down Below"

       I've been clearing out my store of paperwork---bank statements, medical records, and other paperwork that contain personal information such as account numbers, SSN's, etc. But what to do with them. We owned a shredder in the past, but that has disappeared at the present. And it was a rather tedious process anyway. I have used scissors to cut out personal information and then put the rest in the trash. My hands ached from that method. 

     So for the last year or so, I've burned the accumulated files of papers. I know burning is banned except for outdoor fireplaces.   I wait for snowfall, and make my own little firepit in the snow. As in previous years doing this, I found it is quite hard to ignite  a fire meant to burn stacks of papers. Today I struck 4 matches into flames, but the flame dissipated after only surface charring. I went into the basement looking for something more flammable.  (Not anything liquid; I know better.) I went to the basket of dryer lint, and grabbed a handful. I put that on the barely smoldering paper, and instantly, there were bright flames, and most of the papers disappeared, leaving  only ashes.

     I keep reading about the dangers of clogged dryer vents. I believe I'll look into a dryer vent


cleaning service.

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