Big disappointments make small victories better

I sat on the patio enjoying temperature in the mid-60s and the change of the season while reflecting on the Chicago Cubs' miserable baseball season. Another disappointing October because of unexpected injuries. What a shock.

I wonder if the Cubs could find their way out of a corn maze? With a map? Or a compass? Would they have used the gum for a trail or to see who could blow the biggest bubble?If I've learned one thing this year, it's that the Cubs are the real boys of summer. They certainly don't play in the fall -- yet.Tomorrow, who knows what will make my day? A full roll of toilet paper in the bathroom? Or 10 minutes spent listening to the crickets in the backyard signal the end of the day as the last pink hues drenching the clouds fade into darkness.Now, if the Cubs found good pitching, that would make my day. Maybe they wouldn't fade into darkness each October.Maybe it's the Cubs fan mentality that has kept my family clinging to the lone tomato plant surviving in our garden. We hope for one last hurrah, but know deep down it was over by late summer.I'll root for the Dodgers in the playoffs, maybe even the Yankees, but never the Cardinals. Not if they were the last baseball team on Earth that could beat the White Sox. Never.The disappointment just continues. The third clothes iron I've purchased in the past two years leaks, encountering the same fate as the other irons that met an early demise. No one in the household seems to know why the irons ended up cracked. It's as if the irons purposely injured themselves, frustrated because their work was never done.Vicki Estes is a Topeka freelance writer. She can be reached at vaestes@sbcglobal.net.It didn't take long, or much, to improve my mood. The dryer sheet scent wafting from the dryer vent was quite pleasant. At my age, it takes less and less to impress me. That evening, it happened to be the gentle scent of the summer meadow. I had two loads of laundry under my belt, and everyone would find clean underwear for the new week. Score one for Mom; zero for the Cubs.A Cubs fan's work is never done. We constantly have to convince others we aren't stupid -- just stubborn -- for the extraordinary dedication to our team. "Next year" we say with a straight face each October.

Vicki Estes is a Topeka freelance writer. She can be reached at vaestes@sbcglobal.net.

Cleaning Your Dryer Vent Means A Savings Of Time And Money And Avoiding a Fire Hazard

Have you noticed that its starting to take longer and longer for your clothes to dry? Does a load of towels now take 2 or 3 drying cycles, and maybe still feel a little damp? If so, you�re probably also paying higher gas and electric bills than you used to.

Because of the high incidence of dryer fires, never leave the house if the dryer is on and never go to bed with the dryer running either. We are all a nation of multitaskers and what better way to multitask than to put wet clothes into the dryer, run some errands and come home to a load of dry laundry. This is really taking chances and just not safe to do.So if you are in need of this being done, just think about how much money you will be saving and how much joy it will put back into doing the laundry! Well, maybe that�s a slight exaggeration, but at least it will be a little less of a chore.If your dryer is located in a laundry closet or small room, the door to that room must be open while the dryer is running. A dryer needs make-up air--whatever amount of air it�s exhausting out, it needs to bring the same amount of air in, without having to work for it. If the dryer cannot get that make-up air, it may overheat. A dryer needs at least 100 square inches of oxygen, the equivalent of a 10" x 10" window. Also, if there is an exhaust fan in the laundry room, the fan should be off when the dryer is running.Lint should be removed from the lint screen before each load of laundry. In addition, the fabric softener pads or sheets are fine to use but they leave a chemical film on the lint screen which will make your dryer harder to exhaust. Every few months, take the lint screen out, bring it to your kitchen sink and wash it with water, liquid dishwashing soap and a tooth brush.Who do you contact to get the venting system brushed out and inspected? Believe it or not, most appliance technicians will only deal with the dryer itself and want nothing to do with what it vents through. Generally the people to contact are chimney sweeps, and it is highly recommended to use one trained as a C-Det Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician if they are in your area.The solution may be simpler than you think. And less expensive.When looking for a company to clean the dryer vent system, make sure that the technician will use a brushing method to clean out the dryer venting system. Many companies simply use a vacuum or blower, which will not remove the lint accumulation in the venting system. This becomes that much more essential if the lint is moist, since it takes on a consistency close to paper mache and will otherwise stick like paste to the inside of the pipe.Most dryers now have a safety feature that will either turn the dryer off or turn the dryer�s heat off if it senses that it�s overheating, which will happen when there�s a buildup clogging the venting system. That�s why it takes forever for your clothes to dry--the clothes will keep spinning but there�ll be no heat. This feature is not completely reliable to depend on, and the older dryers are also not as likely to have adequate safety systems which will shut it off or stop the heat.In 1998, the last year reported, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that there were 15,600 fires, resulting in 20 deaths and 370 injuries from dryer fires. The fire hazard, in many cases, is caused by the lint and paper that gets past the lint screen landing inside the dryer below the drum on the dryer floor. Have a qualified appliance repair person out to clean the interior of the dryer several times a year to minimize the chance of fire. Watch how the repair person does this. In some dryers, there�s an access panel in the front of the dryer that can be easily removed so that the homeowner can do this. Clean the lint debris behind the dryer and keep combustible materials away from the dryer as much as possible.One of the main causes for buildup in the dryer venting system is from forgetting to pull the pieces of paper, wrappers or Kleenex from the pockets before doing the laundry. Then add to that the hair (human and pet), sand, jewelry, money, and just about anything that you can think of, and you can see what it will lead to. The more of this kind of stuff that can be caught ahead of time and not allowed to get into the dryer, the better. It�s crazy what winds up in there!The flexible connector hose between the dryer and the wall should be made from aluminum and not from flammable plastic. It should not be kinked or crushed, since this will also restrict the dryer�s ability to vent properly and will cause the dryer to overheat. It�s preferable that the connector hose only be long enough to go between the dryer and the wall with just a little bit of slack so that if the dryer is pulled out, the hose still stays connected.In addition to cleaning out the accumulation in the venting system, there are other ways to help keep you safe when using your dryer.

So if you are in need of this being done, just think about how much money you will be saving and how much joy it will put back into doing the laundry! Well, maybe that�s a slight exaggeration, but at least it will be a little less of a chore.

In-O-Vate Technologies - Most Valuable Product Award 2003

One judge was so impressed by the Dryerbox that he commented: "What a great idea! Why didn't I think of it?" The product is a recessed dryer vent box that saves space in the laundry room because it allows the dryer to be pushed against the wall. It also helps the clothes dryer to operate more efficiently so clothes dry faster and reduces the risk of clothes dryer fires by eliminating the accumulation of lint in the exhaust hose. Dryerbox allows the storage and recoiling of the flex transition hose between the dryer and the wall connection to take place inside the wall cavity, eliminating the zigzag of ductwork. It's made of 22-gauge aluminized steel. Model 350 is 3 1/2 inches deep and model 425 is 4 1/4 inches deep. The Retrofit Box for existing homes is 4 inches deep.

COST: $19 for new construction models and 521 for the retrofit. 888-443-7937. www.dryerbox.com. Circle 322.

Prevent Water Damage in the Laundry Room

The washer and drier are usually located in the laundry room and create heat and moisture. Simple maintenance is required to help avoiding water problems and mold.

REGARDING the article in the Chronicle Is your bus service up to scratch. I use service 93 and on Friday, October 10, they actually took two buses off from Team Valley. 19.07 and the 19.37. They used the excuse that they were short of drivers as drivers had been ringing in sick. The same happened this Saturday, they took buses off again.Hoses & FiltersFree guides are availableThe DryerThe utility sink is sometimes the source for water related problems. Search for leaks under the sink. A drip in the trap under the sink can be a sign for problems and should be repaired immediately. Slow draining pipes may indicate a partially blocked drain. A constantly dripping faucet must me repaired promptly. Replace sink seals if they are cracked or loose. Damped or stained walls around plumbing pipes indicate an internal leak that must be fixed before additional damage occurs.GN, Jesmond.For more information visit www.RestorationSOS.comThe WasherLike in most appliances, problems often start in the hose. Keep at least 4 inches between the water connection and the back of the washer. This space will prevent the hose from kinking and bursting. Check the hoses and replace them if old. Consider installing steel-braided hoses.

Free guides are available

Author: Terry Allen

Vent your spleen

Newcastle Central Station offers one miserable gents toilet. The other day there was an out of order notice stacked above the hand dryer to which someone had added the words five months. Under the wash basin a cardboard carton was filled to overflowing with used paper towels, the toilets themselves were nasty in the extreme.

The washer is connected to both cold and hot water lines. Check them frequently. Start with the joints and fix a leak if you find it. Be sure to check both ends of the water lines. Clean or replace the filters once in a while. A blocked filter will slow the water flow into the washing machine, and may cause some malfunctions. This problem is worse in areas with �hard water�. Inspect the shut off valve by looking for drips into the washing machine while it is not in use. If you detect a leak, replace the valve.Utility Sink

MB, Gateshead.

Condo owner could add dryer vent builder forgot

Danetta Garfink may now dry her clothes in peace.The Baltimore County woman has been embroiled in litigation with the Council of Unit Owners at her condominium complex since 2000, when she rerouted the venting system for her dryer from the furnace room, where the builder had mistakenly installed it, to the outside of the house.Last week, the state's top court decreed that Garfink did not need the council's approval to reroute the vent, and that she may leave it where it is.It is obvious that the intention of the drafters of the easement was that in the circumstances described in the easement, the unit owners would have the automatic right to maintain necessary and required venting and ducts without the permission of the Board, Judge Dale R. Cathell wrote for a 4-3 majority. We believe that in the unusual circumstances of this case, the situation is the functional equivalent of maintenance necessary for the reasonable and safe operation of the dryer. Our holding is limited, however, to the particular situation here extant.Garfink's attorney, James E. Carbine, said his client is extraordinarily relieved.The attorney for the condominium council, though, said the ruling opens up a Pandora's box.I'm concerned that while the majority opinion said it's limited to a specific case, it's just going to be a springboard for unit owners to bypass the board of directors and make exterior changes, said John M. Oliveri, who said he represents several condominium councils.He said he will ask the court to reconsider.Three dissenters on the Court of Appeals agreed with Oliveri. In an opinion authored by Judge Alan M. Wilner, they worried that the majority had been so busy trying to avoid forcing Garfink to remove the vent that it made bad law. Among other concerns, Wilner wrote that the ruling is more ambiguous than the majority intended and that it could affect every condominium in Maryland, as well as other easements.Garfink owned her house - the former model home in The Cloisters at Charles - since 1991, but only discovered the venting problem when her old dryer stopped working. The vendor refused to install her new dryer, saying the ventilation system presented a fire hazard.All the other houses in the development had dryers that vented outside of the house, but the builder simply forgot to install an outside vent on the model home, according to the decision.After Garfink had the venting system rerouted - without consulting the Council of Unit Owners - it wound up blowing steam in the direction of her neighbor's front door, and he complained to the council.

Garfink owned her house - the former model home in The Cloisters at Charles - since 1991, but only discovered the venting problem when her old dryer stopped working. The vendor refused to install her new dryer, saying the ventilation system presented a fire hazard.

CATHELL: UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCEWHAT THE COURT HELDCase:Garfink v. The Cloisters at Charles, CA No. 79, Sept. Term 2005. Reported. Opinion by Cathell, J.; dissent by Wilner, J. Filed April 13, 2006.Issues:Did the lower court err in (1) holding that easement law does not apply to easements granted in condominium documents; (2) affirming that a maintenance easement did not allow petitioner to create an exterior dryer vent without the council's approval; or (3) affirming that petitioner had to get respondent's prior approval before relocating the vent?Holding:Yes; reversed and remanded. Traditional easement law does apply to condominiums. Petitioner's new installation of an exterior dryer vent constituted a repair, which she is permitted to do without consulting the condominium council.Counsel:James E. Carbine for appellant; John M. Oliveri for appellee.

Author: Caryn Tamber

Condo owner could add dryer vent builder forgot, rules MD Court of

(The following article was originally published in The Daily Record, Baltimore, MD, another Dolan Media publication.)

After Garfink had the venting system rerouted - without consulting the Council of Unit Owners - it wound up blowing steam in the direction of her neighbor's front door, and he complained to the council.Whether your home is in the rural area or right in the middle of downtown, installing preventive measures are important to keep you safe. Smoking near flammable materials, using alternative heat resources without caution and proper guidance and even the use of poorly maintained dryer vent can all start a fire.Maintenance easement appliesIn 2003, the council requested a court order for removal of the vent. Baltimore County Circuit Judge Mickey J. Norman granted the request and, in an unreported opinion, the Court of Special Appeals affirmed.While the Court of Special Appeals held that traditional easement law does not apply to condominiums, the top court held that it does since, according to precedent and The Cloisters' own declaration, each unit has all the incidents of real property. The declaration also granted an easement so each unit owner could maintain and repair structures such as ducts, wiring and vents, Cathell pointed out.He wrote that, had the builder properly constructed an exterior vent in 1991, Garfink would have been allowed access to the common area in order to repair or maintain it.It was reasonable for [Garfink] to remedy the hazard created by the improper original construction of the dryer exhaust system, Cathell wrote. In order to reasonably enjoy the grant of the easement, [Garfink] was entitled to install an exterior dryer exhaust vent.The majority also took issue with the council's suggestions for alternate locations for the vent, two of which it says are very close to where it is now and would make no difference, one of which would violate code, and one of which would entail remodeling Garfink's home.In his dissent, Wilner wrote that he has a solution.He wrote that he also would have reversed the Court of Special Appeals' ruling favoring the condominium council, but that he would have sent the case back to the circuit court with instructions to have the two parties introduce into evidence the floor plans for the other units showing where their dryers are vented. That way, they could figure out where the vent should be and whether the parties are negotiating in good faith.Carbine said the case will have lasting impact in that it reaffirmed that easement law applies to condominiums, but that it won't have a great an effect as the dissenters feel it will. Only if a builder installs a dryer but no exterior vent, or a furnace but no chimney, will the Garfink case be applicable, he said.The court was very clear that it stops there, that somebody can't use the repair exception - to put a plastic Santa Claus up on your roof, he said.The attorney for the condominium council, though, said the ruling opens up a Pandora's box.In 2003, the council requested a court order for removal of the vent. Baltimore County Circuit Judge Mickey J. Norman granted the request and, in an unreported opinion, the Court of Special Appeals affirmed.After your home has been cleaned and your items sent to restoration companies, you must also have it checked for structural damage so repairs or replacement can be undertaken as soon as possible.The agency can recommend professional cleanup and restoration companies to help you deal with fire damage Michigan. It may take a while to totally recover from the disaster but with expert assistance, you can safely tackle problems confidently.The court was very clear that it stops there, that somebody can't use the repair exception . . . to put a plastic Santa Claus up on your roof, he said.It was reasonable for [Garfink] to remedy the hazard created by the improper original construction of the dryer exhaust system, Cathell wrote. In order to reasonably enjoy the grant of the easement, [Garfink] was entitled to install an exterior dryer exhaust vent.Caution against fire damage Michigan though is not only confined to residential and recreational areas near the forests but also in cities as well. Fires after all can start anywhere at any time. Carelessness is one of most common reasons for it so the awareness campaign in Michigan regarding this disaster remains aggressive.Last week, the state's top court decreed that Garfink did not need the council's approval to reroute the vent, and that she may leave it where it is.The Baltimore County woman has been embroiled in litigation with the Council of Unit Owners at her condominium complex since 2000, when she rerouted the venting system for her dryer from the furnace room, where the builder had mistakenly installed it, to the outside of the house.A fire alarm and sprinkling system is necessary as your first defense against fire disaster. Fire extinguishers will do as long as they're placed in strategic locations and in proper working condition. It is important too that the occupants of the home or buildings know what to do in case of fire. Escape routes must also be established and residents must be aware of it.The majority also took issue with the council's suggestions for alternate locations for the vent, two of which it says are very close to where it is now and would make no difference, one of which would violate code, and one of which would entail remodeling Garfink's home.He said he will ask the court to reconsider.He wrote that he also would have reversed the Court of Special Appeals' ruling favoring the condominium council, but that he would have sent the case back to the circuit court with instructions to have the two parties introduce into evidence the floor plans for the other units showing where their dryers are vented. That way, they could figure out where the vent should be and whether the parties are negotiating in good faith.Since Michigan has its forests as one of its main attractions, more residents are settling in within its confines to escape the overcrowded cities while visitors find the recreational activities available in these areas enticing thereby increasing risk of wildfire.Garfink's attorney, James E. Carbine, said his client is extraordinarily relieved.It is obvious that the intention of the drafters of the easement was that in the circumstances described in the easement, the unit owners would have the automatic right to maintain necessary and required venting and ducts without the permission of the Board, Judge Dale R. Cathell wrote for a 4-3 majority. We believe that in the unusual circumstances of this case, the situation is the functional equivalent of maintenance necessary for the reasonable and safe operation of the dryer. Our holding is limited, however, to the particular situation here extant.He wrote that, had the builder properly constructed an exterior vent in 1991, Garfink would have been allowed access to the common area in order to repair or maintain it.

The court was very clear that it stops there, that somebody can't use the repair exception . . . to put a plastic Santa Claus up on your roof, he said.

Author: Caryn Tamber