THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS EXTENDEDTHE* FLOOD ADVISORY FOR...EAST CENTRAL MCDOWELL COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...WEST CENTRAL BURKE COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...* UNTIL 1215 PM EDT SUNDAY.* AT 1159 AM EDT, LAKE JAMES REMAINED ABOVE FULL POOL AT 101.25FEET. THE WATER LEVEL WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY FALL, BUT REMAINABOVE FULL POOL THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THEREFORE, A FLOODADVISORY HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR NUISANCE FLOODING AND WILL REMAININ EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING OR UNTIL THE FLOODWAVE HASPASSED.* ACTION/ADVISORY STAGE: 101.00 FEETMINOR FLOOD STAGE: 102.00 FEETFORECAST: DUKE ENERGY PROJECTS THE POOL TO CONTINUE TO FALL SLOWLYTHROUGH TONIGHT. EXPECT LAKE JAMES TO REMAIN ABOVE FULL POOLTHROUGH AT LEAST TONIGHT.IMPACTS: BETWEEN 101 AND 102 FEET...NUISANCE FLOODING OF LOW-LYINGAREAS ADJACENT TO THE SHORELINE INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL YARDS,CAMPGROUNDS, DOCKS, AND BOAT-LAUNCH AREAS IS ONGOING. LAKEWATERSMAY BE FLOODING MOOSE LODGE CAMPGROUND, MOOSE LODGE CAMPGROUND RD,AND HOUSEBOAT LANE.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...BOATERS, FISHERMEN, KAYAKERS, AND OTHER LAKE USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TOEXERCISE CAUTION DURING ELEVATED LAKE LEVELS AND DOWNSTREAMRELEASES. AVOID AREAS ALONG THE STREAM BELOW DAMS RELEASING WATER.CAMPERS AND OTHER RESIDENTS ALONG THE LAKESHORE MUST BE PREPARED TORETREAT TO HIGHER GROUND IF LAKE LEVELS CONTINUE TO RISE.STAY WEATHER AWARE AND MONITOR LAKE LEVELS CLOSELY.&&

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Watch Now: Keeping safe from COVID-19 at the pool this summer, and more virus stories - McDowell News

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS EXTENDEDTHE* FLOOD ADVISORY FOR...SOUTH CENTRAL CALDWELL COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...EAST CENTRAL BURKE COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...* UNTIL NOON EDT SUNDAY.* AT 1152 AM EDT, LAKE RHODHISS REMAINED ABOVE FULL POOL AT 101.2FEET. THE WATER LEVEL WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY FALL, BUT REMAINABOVE FULL POOL THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THEREFORE, A FLOODADVISORY HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR NUISANCE FLOODING AND WILL REMAININ EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING OR UNTIL THE FLOODWAVE HAS PASSED.* ACTION/ADVISORY STAGE: 102.00 FEET.MINOR FLOOD STAGE: 104.00 FEET.FORECAST: DUKE ENERGY PROJECTS THE POOL TO GRADUALLY DECLINETHROUGH TONIGHT.IMPACTS: AT 103.0 FEET...ACTION/ADVISORY STAGE. NUISANCE FLOODINGOF LOW-LYING AREAS INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL YARDS, DOCKS, AND BOAT-LAUNCH AREAS IS ONGOING. WATER MAY APPROACH STRUCTURES OFF OFCATAWBA AVE BELOW THE DAM AND OTHER AREAS UPSTREAM OF THE DAM.* FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LAKE LEVELS, PROJECTIONS, OR DAM RELEASES,PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT http://LAKES.DUKE-ENERGY.COM ORCALL 1-800-829-5253.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...BOATERS, FISHERMEN, KAYAKERS, AND OTHER LAKE USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TOEXERCISE CAUTION DURING ELEVATED LAKE LEVELS AND DOWNSTREAMRELEASES. AVOID AREAS ALONG THE STREAM BELOW DAMS RELEASING WATER.CAMPERS AND OTHER RESIDENTS ALONG THE LAKESHORE MUST BE PREPARED TORETREAT TO HIGHER GROUND IF LAKE LEVELS CONTINUE TO RISE.STAY WEATHER AWARE, MONITOR LAKE LEVELS CLOSELY, AND HEED GUIDANCEFROM LOCAL OFFICIALS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.&&

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A colorful corner of the city - Morganton News Herald

What happens when it gets really hot and the AC is blasting on full?

In much of the United States, the malls and restaurants are reopening to the public. Some of those states get really hot in the summertime. Sarah Goodyear, a writer and host on The War On Cars, posted an interesting tweet:

Recent research indicates that large droplets from sneezing can travel much further than 2 meters, even if there are no air movements. Small particles (

They have been studying the problem in Canada too. Professor Brian Fleck told the National Post that "this has been on peoples radar for quite a while. Somebody on a different floor sneezes The particle can stay airborne long enough to go all the way through the system and then pop out in somebody elses office."

There are various ways that the risk can be lessened, including use of filters that catch a greater number of those particles, and drawing more fresh air into a system... But each of those changes carries a cost. Adding more fresh air can require additional heat or air conditioning. Heavier filters means more energy is needed to push the air through them.

But it doesn't get as hot in Canada as it does in Arizona. Engineer and Professor Ted Kesik told TreeHugger that "we shall be greatly challenged retrofitting our existing buildings to eliminate dilution ventilation systems." This is especially a challenge in the heat of a southern summer, where the difference between inside and outside air can be 40F in Arizona or Texas. In the Southeast, there is also a lot of humidity with the heat. That's why the air is recirculated; the amount of energy needed to condition a mall's worth of outside air would be ridiculously high.

ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, had a look at the issue of the coronavirus and issued a statement in late April:

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air is sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures.

They issued technical guidelines in a position document on infectious aerosols:

Infectious aerosols can be disseminated through buildings by pathways that include air distribution systems and interzone airflows. Various strategies have been found to be effective at controlling transmission, including optimized airflow patterns, directional airflow, zone pressurization, dilution ventilation, in-room air-cleaning systems, general exhaust ventilation, personalized ventilation, local exhaust ventilation at the source, central system filtration, UVGI, and controlling indoor temperature and relative humidity. Design engineers can make an essential contribution to reducing infectious aerosol transmission through the application of these strategies.

That's fine, the engineers know what to do with new buildings. But what about existing ones? Here, they make some recommendations, and I try to add an explanation in italics.

All of these modifications are expensive, either in equipment or operating costs. All of these building owners and tenants have been bleeding money in the last few months. All of the companies making this equipment are going through the crisis, too. In short, it is probably safe to say it's not gonna happen, at least in the short term.

I have tried to get comments from engineers and experts, but the only one I have received so far is, "Yikes, I think that is a problem." I will add more comments as I receive them.

But I do believe that Sarah Goodyear has raised an interesting point. In my limited experience in Arizona in summer (two weeks in Scottsdale in July), I rarely saw anyone outside. And it's not even summer yet, but as one shopper in Arizona told NBC News after the mall opened, "We hit all the museums and this place because its hot."

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Coronavirus and the air conditioned nightmare - Treehugger

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT So ... what does it takes to re-open a international business in Connecticut that has already been trying to keep its work force of about 500 employed? South Windsor-based TicketNetwork Chief Executive Officer Donald Vaccaro was not shy about sharing the details Friday.

On Tuesday, Vaccaro said, TicketNetwork will begin the reopening process, and the number of employees returning to the South Windsor headquarters will continue to expand "as is prudent."

"TicketNetwork has taken the appropriate steps to control the access to the building to make sure that everyone who enters the building is safe," Vaccaro said.

The building is "ready," Vaccaro said, and here are the highlights of the changes:

(TicketNetwork/Sean Burns)

(TicketNetwork/Sean Burns)

Said Vaccaro, "TicketNetwork is preparing to reopen for its valued staff, most of whom have been working from home since late March, doing their part to help flatten the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of its reopening plan, company management and its facilities team reviewed a variety of best practices and developed a multi-tiered approach to bringing workers back in the safest fashion possible."

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TicketNetwork Outlines What It Takes To Reopen Larger Office - South Windsor, CT Patch

Have you ever experienced having the worst allergies inside your home than outside? It might be that your home has accumulated enough dust that the allergens have surfaced. There are several ways to make sure your home in California or Utah is free of any allergen.Professional duct cleaningis a popular choice for those who have larger homes but dont have the time to clean regularly. Here are other options you can do to control indoor allergens.

If you have pets that regularly shed their fur, vacuum your carpet and floors at least once a day. Depending on the size of your house, you can opt for lint rollers to manage the fur on couches, rugs, and clothes. But if your pet can access any part of your house, then you mustvacuum pet hairat least daily or every other day.

Not everyone may be allergic to pets, but once your house accumulates enough fur, it can be a cause for dust accumulation, as well. Dust can easily get stuck on a ball of pet hair and reach hard-to-see places.

When vacuuming, make sure you dont miss out on other parts of the house where dust can pile up as well. These include your window screens and curtains. If you cant wash your curtains frequently, be sure to at least vacuum it from time to time to help lessen the dust particles on the fabric.

Ever switched on your air conditioner and then found yourself sneezing uncontrollably? This is a clear indication you may need to have your filters and air ducts cleaned. Clean filters will also help you save on electricity, as your air conditioner wont be exerting too much effort to get your room cold in the shortest time possible.

If you clean indoors regularly and still find yourself getting the sniffles, then your filters and air ducts may need some deep cleaning. You can hire a professional technician to do the job. As for maintenance, you can keep air humidifiers or diffusers on for a few hours each day to keep the air clean as much as possible.

Lastly, there are times when you neglect to take a shower before going to bed, and youve managed to take home a lot of dust and dirt youve collected the entire day. Imagine doing this regularly and not changing your sheets and beddings consistently.

Apart from observing proper hygiene before going to bed, make sure to keep your bed clean by having it checked for dust mites or bed bugs and by washing your sheets regularly. Sometimes, its your pillows that cause the worst allergies without you realizing it. So be sure to replace and wash your pillowcases as frequently as possible.

Its highly important to keep every area of your house clean, whether or not it can be seen by the naked eye. Have a cleaning routine scheduled, so you never forget it and keep your home allergy-free.

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Minimize the Sneeze: What You Can Do to Reduce Allergens in Your Home - Fife Free Press

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems must be allowed to play their important role in helping essential services deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the UKs F Gas register REFCOM.

Speaking on a webinar hosted by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Head of REFCOM, Graeme Fox, refuted rumours that air conditioning and ventilation could help to spread the virus stating that these were completely unfounded and not backed up by any scientific evidence, adding cooling and ventilation systems were not the problem, but rather they were part of the solution.

For example, by switching air handling units to full fresh air mode and temporarily disabling recirculation with heat recovery, facilities managers could ensure contaminated air was not recirculated in occupied spaces.

Health is more important than energy efficiency right now, said Fox. It is also important to keep up air change rates even in partially occupied buildings to minimise the risk of moisture, which could contain the virus, settling on internal surfaces.

Public Health England stated that transmission of the virus is thought to occur mainly through respiratory droplets generated by coughing and sneezing, and through contact with contaminated surfaces. It has not recommended any special cleaning measures for ventilation and cooling systems.

Fox said scaremongering was unhelpful to those trying to understand the threat.

The truth is that HVAC systems perform a crucial role in keeping essential services like hospitals, supermarkets, care homes and schools operating this is going to be more important than ever over the coming weeks and months, he said.

REFCOMs position is also supported by guidance fromREHVA, the European Federation of HVAC associations, which said humidification, air conditioning and duct cleaning had no practical effect on the transmission of the coronavirus.

It said: Covid-19, unlike some other viruses, is largely resistant to environmental changes and is susceptible only to high relative humidities above 80 per cent and temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.

It is recommending that heating and cooling systems are operated normally to ensure buildings can continue to support critical activities and maintain the health and wellbeing of occupants.

Join 12,000+ of your FM peers from across the world at ExCeL London on 08-10 September. Bring the team and boost your CPD, your skills and your career with seminars and workshops at the only IWFM- supported exhibition. Test, trial and source smart solutions across technology, cleaning, FM services, waste and energy management; and meet a host of suppliers for new business collaborations. Your ticket also gives you free access to co-located shows to boost your specialisms across wellbeing, smart buildings, fire, security and health & safety.

Get your free ticket for Facilities Show.

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HVAC is part of the solution in helping essential services deal with Covid-19 - FMJ

Do you need to have the HVAC ducts in your home cleaned? (DepositPhotos)

Duct cleaning has become popular in recent years, with commercial cleaning services popping up everywhere. But is the service worth it, or is it a scam? Heres some information to help you decide whether or not your home might benefit from having the HVAC ducts in your house cleaned.

Professional duct cleaning services use specialized blowers, vacuums, and brushes to clean out the supply, intake, and return ducts throughout your home. Duct cleaning should also involve a thorough cleaning of the air handler, registers, grilles, fans, motors, housings, and coils of the HVAC system.

Theres no research at present proving that routine duct cleaning improves the air quality or reduces dust in your home. There is, however, evidence that dirty heating and cooling coils, motors, and air handling units can make your HVAC unit less efficient.

While duct cleaning alone doesnt seem that necessary, there are cases where cleaning the HVAC unit and ductwork could be useful.

Due to growing concerns about indoor air quality, its easy to convince homeowners that their ducts need cleaning. But unless ducts are really dirty, theres no reason to clean them. The EPA takes a similar stance on the issue, recommending cleaning only if the ducts and HVAC unit are contaminated.

If done properly, duct cleaning doesnt hurt; but its not something that needs to be on your regular home maintenance list. You probably dont need to have your ducts and HVAC system cleaned unless:

Originally posted here:
Air Duct Cleaning: Scam or Worth It? - Today's Homeowner

The clothes dryer is found in almost every home. We use it weekly if not daily. Its main purpose is to take the heat and moisture out of your clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle, or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.

There is much more to it than meets the eye and you can potentially have a house fire if you are not aware of how to clean your dryer vent thoroughly Cleaning the exterior dryer vent is not the same as cleaning the lint catch or screen inside the dryer.

The dryer vent is an exhaust pipe that vents hot air to the outside. Vents can go long distances and are generally installed with bends. The bends create places where lint can collect, and birds can nest. It important to keep the vent clean and properly maintained, said Rebecca Derendal, owner of Arizona Chimney & Air Ducts, a Rosie-Certified Partner.

The clothes dryer is found in almost every home. We use it weekly if not daily. Its main purpose is to take the heat and moisture out of your clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle, or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.

There is much more to it than meets the eye and you can potentially have a house fire if you are not aware of how to clean your dryer vent thoroughly Cleaning the exterior dryer vent is not the same as cleaning the lint catch or screen inside the dryer.

The dryer vent is an exhaust pipe that vents hot air to the outside. Vents can go long distances and are generally installed with bends. The bends create places where lint can collect, and birds can nest. It important to keep the vent clean and properly maintained, said Rebecca Derendal, owner of Arizona Chimney & Air Ducts, a Rosie-Certified Partner.

A dirty and full dryer vent can cause:

Appliance Inefficiency: the dryer will run longer than necessary.

Wear and Tear: A dryer taking twice as long to dry clothes will cut its lifetime in half and lead to expensive repairs.

Carbon Monoxide: Gas dryers that are not exhausting correctly can cause carbon monoxide in the home.

Obstructions: Nests, dryer sheets, and pieces of clothes tangles with lint blocks the vent.

The most serious consequence of not keeping the dryer vent clean is fire and property damage. A dirty dryer and/or vent can ignite as a result of overheating and overworked safety controls.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration:

2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.

Failure to clean the dryer (34 percent) is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.

More home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months, peaking in January.

The Consumer Product Safety Commissions safety report, Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires, recommends to check the dryer vent and exhaust vent periodically to ensure that exhaust air is completely escaping.

Every vent is installed differently. It can depend on the length of the vent, how many turns and how often the dryer is used every week.

If you use a professional dryer vent cleaning service, there are several different applications depending on how your dryer is situated. The most common technique is with the help of the blower motor and flexible extension rods with a bristle brush on the end. The rods easily navigate several 90 degree turns in your vent line, according to Arizona Chimney & Air Ducts.

This is on a rotor system, so the spin action of the brush really gives the vent a thorough cleaning. The technician will move the rod/brush in and out repeatedly until the vent is clear of lint and obstructions.

The most common way is done from the outside, which keeps your home spotless. This is an extremely effective method to give your dryer vent a clearer passage for the moist hot air to move through.

If you are going to clean the vent yourself, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission recommends the following steps:

Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes.

Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Remember to reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again.

Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer chassis periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter.

Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. Most manufacturers specify the use of such metal ducts, which provides maximum airflow. Metal flex ducting is a must as flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and are more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow.

Make dryer vent cleaning a regular part of your home maintenance!

Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains. If possible, wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and, preferably, hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle. To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket.

Rosies Safety Tip: Do not leave your house while the dryer is running. A fire could easily ignite in the few minutes you are away from home.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert since 1988, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8 to 11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and from 7 to 10 a.m. on KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.

Continued here:
Rosie on the House: Cleaning dryer vents more than you think - Green Valley News

(Arizona Chimney and Air Ducts Photo)

The clothes dryer is found in almost every home. We use it weekly if not daily. Its main purpose is to take the heat and moisture out of your clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.

If you are wondering why this article is so long keep reading! There is much more to it than meets the eye and you can potentially have a house fire if you are not aware of how to clean your dryer vent thoroughly!

Nope, that is not what we are talking about. Cleaning the exterior dryer vent is not the same as cleaning the lint catch or screen inside the dryer.

The dryer vent is an exhaust pipe that vents hot air to the outside. Vents can go long distances and are generally installed with bends. The bends create places where lint can collect, and birds can nest. It important to keep the vent clean and properly maintained, said Rebecca, owner, Arizona Chimney & Air Ducts, a Rosie-Certified Partner.

A dirty and full dryer vent can cause:

Appliance Inefficiency Because the dryer will run longer than necessary. Wear and Tear A dryer taking twice as long to dry clothes will cut its lifetime in half and lead to expensive repairs. Carbon Monoxide Gas dryers that are not exhausting correctly can cause carbon monoxide in the home. Obstructions Nests, dryer sheets, and pieces of clothes tangles with lint blocks the vent.

The most serious consequence of not keeping the dryer vent clean is Fire and Property Damage. A dirty dryer and/or vent can ignite as a result of overheating and overworked safety controls.

(Arizona Chimney and Air Ducts Photo)

According to the U.S. Fire Administration:

2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Failure to clean the dryer (34 percent) is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires. More home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months, peaking in January.

A proper annual dryer vent cleaning should include a visual inspection to make sure it is visibly sound, said Rebecca.

The Consumer Product Safety Commissions safety report, Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires, recommends to check the dryer vent and exhaust vent periodically to ensure that exhaust air is completely escaping.

Every vent is installed differently. It can depend on the length of the vent, how many turns and how often the dryer is used every week, said Rebecca.

If you use a professional dryer vent cleaning service, there are several different applications depending on how your dryer is situated.

The most common technique is with the help of the blower motor and flexible extension rods with a bristle brush on the end. The rods easily navigate several 90 degree turns in your vent line, said Rebecca.

This is on a rotor system, so the spin action of the brush really gives the vent a thorough cleaning. The technician will move the rod/brush in and out repeatedly until the vent is clear of lint and obstructions.

The most common way is done from the outside which keeps your home spotless. This is an extremely effective method to give your dryer vent a clearer passage for the moist hot air to move through.

If you are going to clean the vent yourself, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission recommends the following steps:

Step 1 Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes.

Step 2 Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Remember to reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again.

(Arizona Chimney and Air Ducts Photo)

Step 3 Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer chassis periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter.

Step 4 Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow. Metal flex ducting is a must as flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and are more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow.

Step 5 Make dryer vent cleaning a regular part of your home maintenance!

Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains.

If possible, wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and, preferably, hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle.

To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket.

Rosies Safety Tip: Do not leave your house while the dryer is running. A fire could easily ignite in the few minutes you are away from home.

Arizona Chimney & Air Ducts specializes in chimney, dryer vent and air duct cleaning. A family owned and operated company, they have served the Phoenix metro area since 1985. A Rosie on the House Certified Partner since 2009, Arizona Chimney & Air Ducts, is also associated and affiliated with some of the most trusted names in the industry, including National Chimney Sweep Guild and the National Fire Protection Association. We have Team members with the CSIA Certification by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and National Fireplace Institute of Gas Hearth Appliances along with the EPA Universal technician Certification.

Join Rosie on the House every Saturday morning from 7 to 11 a.m. on KTAR News 92.3 FM. If youd like to send us questions or comments, emailInfo@RosieontheHouse.com. Follow us onTwitterand like us onFacebook.

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Heres how to clean your dryer vent thoroughly - KTAR.com

If you didnt read The Hunger Games in middle school, where were you? Were you hiding under a rock? Probably, because that series was making big waves in the early 2010s. But did you ever happen to stumble upon Suzanne Collins critically acclaimed series The Underland Chronicles?

I was visiting home for the weekend and doing some light spring cleaning when I came across my copies of the books in the series. I had completely forgotten about them even though the series was one of the best I had ever read.

I read The Underland Chronicles before The Hunger Games, so I didnt catch the fact that they were both by Collins. This makes sense though because the detail and the world-building in this series blew my fifth grade mind just like The Hunger Games series blew my seventh grade mind. And while these books are predominately for fourth-eighth graders, I think they would be interesting to anyone. Heres why.

The first book in the series Gregor the Overlander stars Gregor, and 11-year-old living in New York City. His mom leaves him at their apartment with his grandma and little sisters. While he is doing some laundry in the basement with his baby sister Boots, she falls down an old air duct grate. Gregor dives in after and finds the Underland.

The Underland is composed of humans (or underlanders) with almost-clear skin and giant rats, bats and bugs. The two land in the Underland on the outskirts of its capital city, Regalia. They meet some giant cockroaches who believe the two are there to fulfill a prophecy. The roaches then bring them to the city.

They meet some locals Luxa, who is slated to be the queen of Regalia, and her cousin Henry. They also meet the bats that are bonded to the humans.

Henry and Boots learn about the conflict between the Regalians and the rat king Gorger. Then Gregor gets attacked by some gigantic rats but the underlanders save him. This fuels the conflict between the underlanders and the rats.

The Prophecy of Gray, Gregor and Boots learn, is a tale that tells of two overlanders who team up with 10 underlanders to find Gregors father, who went missing in Underland long ago. They gather the team and set out on their journey.

I dont want to spoil too much, because I really do believe this is a series worth reading, even if youre not in fifth grade. The five books all contain action, emotion, struggle and some really cool characters. Its honestly a good read for any gender or any age. Besides, it may be nice for your brain to have a break from college-level reading.

Even though I read the series in grade school, I can still picture the Underland in my head today. While Collins Underworld may not have made as big of a splash as may the odds be ever in your favor, I promise that it is still worth your time.

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The Suzanne Collins series you probably didn't read as a kid but should have - Standard Online