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22ndCenturyMedia.com active aging
22nd century media | March 1, 2018 | 19
Dryer Vent Wizard
works to make
clothes dryers safer
Hidden buildup in clothes
dryer vent is fire hazard
DON’T LET YOUR DRYER
START A
FIRE!
Most people know they need to clean
out their dryer lint tray between each
cycle, but what lurks behind the wall is
just as important for safety, avoiding
fire traps, as well as fully efficient dryer
performance. Joe Enzenberger, owner
of Dryer Vent Wizard, opened his New
Lenox-based business in 2009, and he can
help fix those dryer issues.
Lint is the villain – lint that has been
allowed to build up and linger too long in
the dryer exhaust vent. It is estimated by
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
and the U.S. Fire Administration
that 15,500 fires associated with clothes
dryers occur annually. These fires account
for an average of 20 deaths, 370 injuries
and more than $88 million in property
damage. “Failure to clean the dryer vent”
was the leading factor cited in U.S. Fire
Administration reports,” Enzenberger,
whose company specializes in dryer vent
cleaning, repair, alteration and installation,
said,
“It is something very few people know
about or think about. It is the leading
cause of dryer fires.”
Lint accumulation also can cause dryers
to stop working or to work inefficiently.
A dryer vent clogged with lint can add as
much as $18 to $24 per month to energy
costs.
“Improper venting causes problems,
as well,” Enzenberger said. “The dryer
exhaust duct and connections should be
made of rigid metal or semi-rigid metal
and secured with metal heat-resistant tape
rather than duct tape. I often find plastic
or foil accordion-type material, which can
easily trap lint and is more susceptible to
kinks and crushing.”
Warning signs include:
• Clothes are taking more than one cycle
to dry, especially jeans and towels.
• No lint visible on lint screen.
• Dryer repeatedly stops during a cycle.
• Clothes have moldy smell after dry cycle.
• Clothes are very hot after a dry cycle
• The top of your dryer is hot to the touch
while running.
• There’s excess lint left on your clothing.
“This has been a consumer education
process, but it’s hard to get the word out,”
Enzenberger said. “Most don’t call until
they have a serious problem with their
dryer.”
He suggests people treat clothes dryers
as a household item in need of regular
maintenance. Consumers can protect
dryer performance and promote safety
by cleaning the lint screen between each
use, ensuring the connection between the
dryer and wall is made of compliant material
and remains unkinked, and having
the dryer exhaust duct cleaned regularly.
Dryer manufacturers recommend inspection
and cleaning at least annually.
Something to watch for in spring: Birds
will begin to build nests, and a popular
nesting site for birds is inside dryer vent
lines. Spring is an important time to have
an inspection and cleaning of clothes dryers
and dryer vent systems.
Another important tip: Never let your
clothes dryer run when you are out of the
house or asleep.
Submitted by Dryer Vent Wizard, 1505 Cherrywood
Lane, New Lenox. For more information,
call (815) 215-2090 or visit www.
willcountydryervent.com.
Before
WARNING!
If your dryer takes longer than one cycle
to dry your clothes, then you may have a
fire hazard in your vent.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Installation
Alteration
Repair
WE ACCEPT
SAVE $ 10
ANY SERVICE!
815-215-2090
www.dryerventwizard.com
Call Today!
After
815-215-2090
www.dryerventwizard.com