We purchased our LG washer and dryer four years ago. For the last three and a half years, I have been cursing the existence of said LG dryer. It was taking three and sometimes four cycles to dry a normal sized load of laundry -- and it is the "giant capacity" dryer!
We've had it checked out. "No problem with it, ma'am." We had a guy come out and look at the vent. "Looks like it has clear air flow, ma'am."
So, I just assumed that it was a lemon and until it completely gave up the ghost, I would have to live with it running constantly. And I mean constantly.
The last straw was last week with the whole burning incident. (the last post) So, here's what has happened since then:
I called a guy out who services LG appliances. He looked all through the dryer and said there was nothing wrong. I need to have my dryer duct cleared out, he informed me. (Now remember, I said that we had a guy come out and check the vent. The robber cleaned the coil at the back of the machine, then went outside and looked at the exit, saw air flowing and decided that was all that was needed.) Essentially, I paid the repair guy 75 smackers to tell me I had a good dryer. "Please call us again, ma'am." Yeah, because it's money for nothing!
The next day, I had a dryer duct cleaning service come out. I wasn't home right when they got there, but had arranged for awesome neighbor to be at the house to receive them. As I rounded the corner to my street, I noticed the gutter running water that looked like there was something like dirty, dark wool running in it. All the way down the street! The yucky water was being pumped out of the duct leading from my dryer. I talked to Tom (from Supreme Air - whom I highly recommend in the Houston area!), and he told me that he has done this for nine years and has never seen as much discharge as has come from my duct. I said, "It was bad, wasn't it?" Tom said, looking very serious, "No, it was worse than bad. You are so lucky you have a great dryer, or your house would have been up in flames. Seriously, I have never seen it so bad. You are so lucky." (Mind you, I had spent the day before looking for a company to clean the vent and watched numerous online videos about the dangers and fires caused by clogged dryer vents and ducts, so I was sufficiently freaked out).
The repair guy made the same comment too, about being glad that I have such a high quality appliance. So, my tune has now changed from cursing LG, to praising them for a quality product. (My cursing is now focused on the home-builder - now out of business, hmmm... - for building a utility room in the center of the home and having the duct go up to the second floor to vent and not putting in a duct fan to avoid a problem/disaster like this was/could have been). Please forgive me, Life's Good...
As I contemplate this whole situation, I am simply grateful. I don't think our little family is more important than anyone else, but I do know that we are just as loved by our Heavenly Father as everyone else. I really feel the "hand of the Lord" in protecting us from, at the very least, loss of property, but also, the possible greater loss of life. I think about how for the last three years -- unless I was out of town (which wasn't often) -- that dryer was running around the clock, building up more and more of a hazard with each cycle. I simply know we were protected and I am so very grateful to know that our Father in Heaven is looking out for us.
Now, when Tom left after cleaning the duct, fixing the vent opening, and applying some sort of solution or something to help the lint move along through the duct, I said, "So, I should have this cleaned, what, every six months?" He said, "No. With everything I've done, you won't need us for three years." I said,"No way! And it's going to dry a load in one cycle?" He said, "Yes. And there is a two year warranty on the work we did today, so if in a couple months, if you don't feel it's working properly, we'll come back and clean it again for free. We'll come every week if you feel you need it." Okay!
So I dried a load of towels. In 45 minutes. Yeah!!!!! Tom and Supreme Air are my new heroes. I feel like I have a new lease on life! Literally. We dodged a big, fiery bullet. Thank Heaven. Literally.
