John Ryley, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Suffolk County, has been awarded with the 2012 Business Partner of the Year Award by the Community Associations Institute (CAI) – Long Island Chapter. This is the second time Ryley has be awarded this title, with 2010 being the first.

Congratulations to Ryley and Dryer Vent Wizard of Suffolk County!

Photo Credit: CAI – LI Chapter Newsletter

John Ryley, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Suffolk County, has been awarded with the 2012 Business Partner of the Year Award by the Community Associations Institute (CAI) – Long Island Chapter.

“As you all know, he attends every CAI – Long Island event, has gone above and beyond supporting our local chapter, and was recently named the winner of the 2012 Business partner of the Year Award…,” details the CAI – LI Autumn Newsletter.

Six years ago Ryley and his nephew opened the Long Island Dryer Vent Wizard franchise, becoming the first in New York State. Initially, Ryley was intrigued by a business that offered cleaning services to both residential and commercial clients and decided to learn more about the model, eventually becoming an owner himself.

“Lint is an equalizer similar to the Department of Motor Vehicles, everyone has to deal with it,” says Ryley.

Ryley met the founding chapter president of CAI – Long Island, Edward Taylor, Esq., and has since used the opportunities they provide to help expand his business. To read more from the CAI – LI Chapter Newsletter, please visit here.

DVW franchisees throughout the United States participated in fire department open houses, community events, on-air interviews, and more to help raise public awareness that poorly maintained or clogged dryer vents are the leading cause of over 15,500 dryer fires every year.

Dryer Vent Wizard partnered with the Children’s Burn Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps child burn survivors by providing both medical and psychological care and activities.

“We raised more than $5,000 through donations,” said Terry Reuer, DVW president. “We actually exceeded our goal and donated 100% of the proceeds to this very worthwhile organization.”

Reuer also acknowledged some of DVW’s franchisees who took time from normal business hours to benefit local communities.

Gina Fazil, DVW franchisee in Sacramento California, was featured on Good Day Sacramento, a TV show on CW 31. She provided an in-home demonstration of potential dryer vent hazards.

Larry Butterfield, DVW owner of Southeast Michigan, participated in a local fire station open house in Chelsea, Mich. He provided an educational display, held a prize drawing for visitors, and answered questions along with the home office staff.

Upon learning the outcome of DVW’s fundraising efforts, Children’s Burn Foundation Executive Director Carol Horvitz said, “Dryer Vent Wizard’s support will give new hope for children suffering from burns and will help continue our mutual mission to prevent burn injuries. We hold a special place in our hearts for all who participated.”

To help prevent dryer fires during National Fire Prevention month in October, Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW) John Ryley participated in Fire Prevention Day in Manorville, NY.

Ryley joined the Manorville Fire Department providing dryer fire safety information and prevention tips to the community. Dryer vents contribute to nearly 17,000 fires every year, and failure to clean is the leading factor.

Appliance manufacturers recommend to have your dryer vent cleaned and inspected by a professional every year. “An important part of our service is to educate people about how they can minimize the risk of dryer fires by following easy tips for dryer maintenance,” says Ryley.

• Replace foil or plastic dryer vents with rigid metal venting.
• Clean screen lint trays before and after drying a load.
• Don’t leave your home or go to bed with your dryer running.
• Have dryer vents professional cleaned and inspected annually.

To help educate on dryer fire prevention during National Fire Prevention month in October, Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW) Maureen Longe presented the importance of having your dryer vent inspected and cleaned every year to AAA.

It is estimated that poorly maintained or clogged dryer vents are the leading cause of appliance fires and cause nearly 17,000 dryer fires every year (source) and over $194 million in property damages.

“There are common warning signs that can indicate a clog or obstruction in your dryer vent, alerting you to a possible dryer fire,” says Longe. They are:

• Clothes taking longer than one cycle to dry a load, especially jeans and towels
• Dryer repeatedly stopping during a cycle
• No lint on the lint screen
• Clothes having a moldy smell after the dry cycle

If you experience any of these signs, make sure to have your dryer vent inspected and cleaned by a professional once a year to reduce the risk of a dryer fire and increase the efficiency of your dryer.

Dryer Vent Wizard, Gina Fazil, was recently featured on Good Day Sacramento to help prevent dryer fires during National Fire Prevention month in October.

There are nearly 17,000 dryer fires every year (source) and the leading factor is failure to clean. Having the dryer vent cleaned is something most homeowners don’t think about, yet major appliance manufacturers recommend having your dryer vent cleaned every year to reduce the risk of fires and keep your dryer running efficiently.

Clogged dryer vents aren’t the only danger, improper venting materials such as foil and vinyl increase the risk of fire in a home. “There is a sticker on the dryer that says WARNING: Do not use metal foil. Do not use plastic, because it can cause a dryer fire,” says Fazil. “Foil and vinyl venting material can collapse and block dryer lint in the vent.” It’s important that dryer vents be made from code compliant materials, such as rigid metal.

To help further the efforts of fire prevention and safety, Dryer Vent Wizard is also raising funds for the Children’s Burn Foundation the month of October.

By Larry Butterfield

When Dryer Vent Wizard arrived we asked the homeowner how the dryer was working and she said that they were smelling something, maybe something burning.

We cleaned and fixed the vent connection, which was dirty, but not completely blocked, so I knew something else was wrong.

I inspected the inside of the dryer and found scorched lint inside and scorched electrical connectors and wiring! The homeowner was surprised to find that the something she was smelling was in fact something burning! She was extremely close to having a major fire in her home.

Dryer Vent Wizard was able to clean out the bottom of the dryer and make sure everything was functioning properly.

To help further the efforts of dryer fire prevention and education during National Fire Prevention month in October, Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW) John Moffat participated in the Old Wethersfield Shopkeepers Association Scarecrow Contest. In addition to creating a Dryer Vent Wizard Scarecrow, Moffat displayed the proper set up of a dryer vent (rigid metal) as well as improper dryer vent materials (foil and vinyl), along with warnings signs of dryer fires, which include:

• Clothes taking more than one cycle to dry a load, especially jeans and towels – this could mean a clogged dryer vent
• No lint visible on the lint screen – indicating the lint is getting trapped somewhere else in the vent system
• The top of the dryer is hot to the touch while running – indicating a clog in the dryer vent

“Continuous education is important,” says Moffat. Proper dryer vent maintenance and code compliant materials are key to making sure your dryer operates as efficiently and safely as possible.

Although Moffat and his dog Toby (pictured above) would like to win the contest, he feels like he already won by helping to education his community on the importance of dryer vent maintenance.

To help further the efforts of fire prevention and safety during National Fire Prevention month in October, Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW) Harold Bert presented the risks of improper dryer vents, and the importance of proper dryer vent maintenance to the Apartment Association of Kansas City.

The risk of a dryer fire is not only a concern for homeowners, but also apartment and condo complexes. It’s important to make sure the dryer vent is up to code, made from proper venting materials (rigid metal), as well as properly constructed and the appropriate length. “Dryer vents that have too long of a connection are difficult to maintain and increase the risk of a fire hazard,” says Bert.

Dryer vents should be cleaned once a year and for apartment complexes, sometimes more frequently due to the high volume of use.

By Ken Mladonicky

I quickly turned off the machine and opened the dryer door. The inside of the unit was way too hot. Upon pulling the machine away from the wall, I noticed that not only was the finish on the back of the dryer discolored due to the extreme heat, but so was the warning label!

Their dryer vent was flexible foil which is fire hazardous material and was nearly 25 to 29 feet long! The family of six’s dryer vent was also kinked and stuffed with lint, which is a common occurrence with foil vents. There was virtually no airflow at the vent cover.

An overheated machine and a dryer vent clogged with lint make for a dangerous combination, and labored dryer times. Dryer Vent Wizard was able to replace the transition, scrubbed the line, and de-linted the machine which increase the efficiency of the dryer and help reduce the risk of a fire. The homeowners also have Dryer Vent Wizard out at least once a year so their dryer never gets to that point again!