SW_HI_ZB_082919

12 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement
22ndcenturymedia.com
Dryer Vent Wizard
DON’T LET YOUR DRYER
START A
FIRE!
works to make
clothes dryers safer
Hidden buildup in clothes
dryer vent is fire hazard
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
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 and 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.
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.
“It is something very few people know
about or think about,” said Enzenberger,
whose company specializes in dryer vent
cleaning, repair, alteration and installation.
“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,” he 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 un-kinked and having
the dryer exhaust duct cleaned regularly.
Dryer manufacturers recommend inspection
and cleaning at least annually.
Now is the perfect 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. For more information,
call (815) 215-2090 or visit www.
dryerventwizard.com.