Columbus Dryer Vent Cleaning Wizard Encourages People to Help the Children’s Burn Foundation

During National Fire Prevention Month the Wizard is handing out wristbands in exchange for a small donation to the Children’s Burn Foundation

Columbus OH – The Columbus Dryer Vent Cleaning Wizard is encouraging the public to help the Children’s Burn Foundation as a way to commemorate National Fire Prevention Month in October. The Children’s Burn Foundation helps children recover both physically and emotionally from injuries sustained in a fire.

Wristbands with the company’s slogan, “Prevent a Fire, Clean Your Dryer” are for sale for a small donation of just $5.00. The Wizard is giving 100 percent of the proceeds to the Children’s Burn Foundation.


Dryer Vent Wizard is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and a nationwide franchise specializing in commercial and residential dryer vent cleaning, repair and new dryer vent installation. Professional dryer vent service by the Wizard is the best way to eliminate a number of dryer related hazards while improving dryer performance.

Over 17,000 dryer fires are reported each year resulting in deaths, injuries and nearly $200 million in property damage. Clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of dryer fires.

“We are proud to participate in a nationwide effort to raise funds for the Children’s Burn Foundation to help children burned in fires,” said Rick Gutridge, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard. “A vital part of our service is to educate consumers about proper dryer maintenance to eliminate fire hazards.”

Gutridge suggests the following tips while performing dryer vent service:

• Replace vinyl or foil dryer ducts with semi-rigid or solid metal venting
• Clean the lint screen after every load of laundry
• Wash the lint filter with soap and water to remove residue left behind by dryer sheets
• Do not store flammable items like cleaning supplies, paint thinner and cardboard boxes around heat producing appliances
• Do not leave the house or go to bed while the dryer is operating
• Call the Wizard for a professional dryer vent inspection and cleaning service

Dryer Vent Wizard helps increase consumer awareness about the importance of dryer vent cleaning to prevent dryer fires and save energy. Rick Gutridge serves homes and businesses in Columbus Ohio, West Jefferson, Upper Arlington, Marysville and nearby neighborhoods.


/> About Dryer Vent Wizard:
Dryer Vent Wizard is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the largest chain of dryer vent cleaning, repair, replacement and alternation specialists in the U.S. with nearly 60 franchisees in major markets. Dryer Vent Wizard franchisees work to promote public awareness on the importance of dryer vent cleaning to prevent dryer fires and save energy. Consumer education while making clothes dryers safer and greener are the main focus of DVW franchisees. Dryer Vent Wizard was founded in 2004 by Dave Lavalle who is also the founder of the Mr. Handyman franchise.

Columbus Dryer Vent Cleaning Wizard Earns Award for Dedication to Service

Positive consumer reviews and the DVW Highest Sales Award are evidence of the Wizard’s dedication to providing superior service

Columbus, OH – Dryer vent cleaning is not an outdated service. It is necessary maintenance for anyone who owns a clothes dryer. Whether new or old, all clothes dryers require air flow provided by the dryer duct system to function properly. Contrary to popular belief, newer homes do not pose a lower risk.

Rick Gutridge, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard (http://www.cleanmyvent.com) is committed to increasing public awareness of this very important service. Dryer vent cleaning makes dryers operate safely and efficiently while reducing drying time and improving overall dryer performance. Education is a vital part of the Wizard’s service and Rick is happy to provide tips and information to help his customers avoid dryer related hazards.

“It is true that advanced technology has led to home appliances being safer and more energy efficient; however, there is still no such thing as a maintenance free dryer vent system,” said Gutridge. “Professional dryer vent installation and regular dryer vent cleaning will reduce the risk of dryer fires and save energy.”

About 80% of Americans have clothes dryers, yet most consumers are unaware that annual dryer vent cleaning is critical to their safety. When Rick Gutridge was inspired to make a career change in 2006, he found the dryer vent cleaning franchise to be a perfect match.

Rick Gutridge has enjoyed a rewarding career making a difference for friends and neighbors in his community. At the 2012 Dryer Vent Wizard national conference, Rick was one of several franchises to receive a top sales award which is evidence of his success in business as well as making many clothes dryers safer and greener. Dryer fires and energy costs are down in the Wizard’s neighborhood!

In addition to earning recognition from the franchisor, Rick also receives positive reviews from happy customers:

"Dryer vent wizard added a booster to my new dryer. The duct line was holding moisture due to length of duct to outside. I called because I had a new home and a new dryer but loads of clothes were taking twice the amount of time to dry. They arrived promptly and on time. Explained the process of adding the booster and measured the output. Very clean and professional.”

Rick Gutridge has earned the Angie’s List Super Service Award every year since 2007. This award is given to companies who have achieved and maintained a superior service rating on Angie’s List throughout the past year. Fewer than 5 percent of the companies on Angie’s List meet the eligibility requirements to be considered for this award.


About Dryer Vent Wizard:
Dryer Vent Wizard is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the largest chain of dryer vent cleaning, repair, replacement and alternation specialists in the U.S. with nearly 60 franchisees in major markets. Dryer Vent Wizard franchisees work to promote public awareness on the importance of dryer vent cleaning to prevent dryer fires and save energy. Consumer education while making clothes dryers safer and greener are the main focus of DVW franchisees. Dryer Vent Wizard was founded in 2004 by Dave Lavalle who is also the founder of the Mr. Handyman franchise.

Dryer Duct Repair and Duct Cleaning Columbus: What Kind of Duct Work is Connected to your Dryer?

Dryer Duct Cleaning Columbus: Look at the duct work attached to the back of your clothes dryer. You should see an exhaust pipe leading to a dryer vent attached to the outside of your home. Is the duct work made of flexible foil, plastic or vinyl? Or is it semi-rigid metal or aluminum? The answer to this question is critical to your safety.

Plastic or flexible dryer exhaust ducts are not acceptable venting material for your clothes dryer. Though this type was used, years ago, it is no longer code. Even the thin metal foil vents which are claimed to resist fire are easily crushed, restricting air-flow which is required for your dryer to work. When the duct is crushed, heat, lint and moisture cannot escape from the clothes dryer.

Flexible metal duct work is acceptable, but not recommended by dryer exhaust technicians. The ideal material for your dryer duct work is a solid metal pipe that is very smooth inside. There should be no protrusions which lint can become caught on and build up. Pieces should be joined with foil tape, not duct tape which is flammable or screws which protrude to the inside and catch lint. Dryer ducts parts should be joined in the direction of the air flow to minimize the chances of lint becoming trapped.

Your dryer duct system is designed to remove heat, moisture and lint from your laundry as it is being dried. If you have a gas dryer, it is also removing gas by-products like carbon monoxide from your home. Improper venting can cause a dryer fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Professional dryer duct cleaning is recommended at least once a year to keep your appliance running efficiently and safely. The fee for this service is small compared to the cost of repairing or replacing an over worked clothes dryer, or the cost of losing your home or even your life.



Rick Gutridge was inspired to make a career change; now he takes great pride in making clothes dryers safer and greener in Central Ohio. Rick begins every service call with a ten point inspection to evaluate the entire dryer vent system for safety and efficiency. He will measure the airflow at the vent line termination before he starts the job so that when he is finished he can show the customer the improvement.

Dryer Vent Wizard provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair and dryer vent installation for homes and businesses in Central Ohio, Franklin, Madison, Licking, Union and Delaware Counties, Columbus, Upper Arlington, Grandview, Worthington, Blacklick, Powell, Westerville, Dublin, Lewis Center, Delaware, Sunbury, Galena, Gahanna, New Albany, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, Pickerington, Groveport, Grove City, West Jefferson, London, Newark, Granville, Clintonville, Bexley, German Village, Canal Winchester, Victorian Village, Pataskala, Obetz, Whitehall, Galoway, Plain City, Marysville, Lancaster, and neighboring cities and communities.

43085, 43201, 43202, 43203, 43204, 43205, 43206, 43207, 43208, 43209, 43210, 43211, 43212, 43213, 43214, 43215, 43217, 43219, 43220, 43223, 43224, 43212, 43220, 43221, 43085, 43004, 43065, 43081, 43082, 43016, 43017, 43035, 43015, 43074, 43021, 43054, 43026, 43068, 43147, 43125, 43123, 43162, 43140, 43055, 43056, 43023, 43209, 43110, 43062, 43207, 43119, 43064, 43040, 43130

So Many Dryer Vent Cleaning Companies; Yet, So Many Dryer Fires

Dryer vent cleaning is one of the most important appliance maintenance issues; yet, it is also the most neglected by homeowners. Over 15,000 clothes dryer fires are reported each year, causing major damage to homes, loss of lives and many injuries. Most of these fires were caused by failure to clean dryer vents.

There are many different companies who provide dryer vent cleaning and installation services. The internet is loaded with articles and blogs all warning consumers about the danger of clogged dryer vents; not to mention the increase in utility expenses when clothes dryers are not venting properly.

So Many Dryer Vent Cleaners; Yet, So Many Dryer Vent fires

Midland, MI: Dryer lint had built up in and around the clothes dryer, causing a fire. Luckily, damage was minimal and no one was hurt…it could have been worse.

Cincinnati, OH: The residents in the University of Cincinnati’s Calhoun Hall were evacuated when a fire started in the laundry room of the basement. The fire was caused by an overheated, clogged dryer vent. The vent was so backed up with lint that the items in the dryer also caught fire. The fire captain said, “It takes a long time to accumulate all that lint; and then something has to go wrong in the dryer.” It was estimated that the lint had been building up for years.

Sedgewickville, MO: A dryer related fire destroyed a home soon after their mother left for work. The kids were getting ready for school when a boy noticed smoke and alerted his sisters to get out of the house. They went to a neighbor’s where they called 911. No one was hurt, but the house was a total loss.

Dryer fires are caused by a combination of heat and blockage of air flow. If your dryer vent system is clogged with lint then you have the key ingredients to start a devastating dryer fire.

Search the internet and you will find many dryer vent cleaning companies in your area. With so many dryer vent cleaners, there should be fewer dryer vent fires. Annual dryer vent cleaning is the number one prevention of clothes dryer fires. Have a dryer vent specialist inspect your dryer vent system to be sure it is safe and your dryer is operating efficiently. Proper dryer vent installation ensures maximum dryer performance.





Rick Gutridge owns Dryer Vent Wizard of Central Ohio, specializing in dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair and dryer vent installation for homes and businesses in Central Ohio, Franklin, Madison, Licking, Union and Delaware Counties, Columbus, Upper Arlington, Grandview, Worthington, Blacklick, Powell, Westerville, Dublin, Lewis Center, Delaware, Sunbury, Galena, Gahanna, New Albany, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, Pickerington, Groveport, Grove City, West Jefferson, London, Newark, Granville, Clintonville, Bexley, German Village, Canal Winchester, Victorian Village, Pataskala, Obetz, Whitehall, Galoway, Plain City, Marysville, Lancaster, and neighboring cities and communities.

43085, 43201, 43202, 43203, 43204, 43205, 43206, 43207, 43208, 43209, 43210, 43211, 43212, 43213, 43214, 43215, 43217, 43219, 43220, 43223, 43224, 43212, 43220, 43221, 43085, 43004, 43065, 43081, 43082, 43016, 43017, 43035, 43015, 43074, 43021, 43054, 43026, 43068, 43147, 43125, 43123, 43162, 43140, 43055, 43056, 43023, 43209, 43110, 43062, 43207, 43119, 43064, 43040, 43130

Don’t Let Your Dryer Start a Fire! Keep Your Columbus, Ohio Home Safe and Sound

Dryer Vent Cleaning is Important! Most people have their furnaces cleaned regularly; however, very few people think of the clothes dryer in relation to appliance maintenance. According to the National Fire Protection Association over 15,000 dryer fires are reported each year. Failure to clean the dryer vent and duct system is the cause of most of these fires. Believe it or not, your clothes dryer is more likely to cause a fire than your furnace or stove! Dryer Vent Wizard recommends annual dryer vent cleaning.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Prevents Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Columbus, Ohio


Besides being a fire hazard, improper dryer venting also poses a carbon monoxide risk. The dryer vent system removes gas by-products from your home if you have a gas dryer. Dryer Vent Wizard recommends a complete inspection of your dryer vent system to be sure it is functioning safely.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Reduces Energy Bills for Columbus, Ohio Residents

When a dryer vent and the dryer ducts are clogged with lint, air flow is restricted, causing your dryer to work harder and use more energy. This creates higher utility bills and a greater chance of the appliance breaking down. Appliance repairs and/or replacement can be expensive. You can prolong the life of your clothes dryer with proper dryer vent cleaning and maintenance. Dryer Vent Wizard provides dryer vent cleaning, maintenance, repairs, installation and dryer vent inspections for homes and businesses in your area.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Prevents Fires in Columbus, Ohio

A clothes dryer fire is caused by lint build-up which restricts airflow and leads to overheating. Dryers produce a lot of lint and simply cleaning the lint screen is not enough. Though the lint filter catches most of the lint, some will escape and end up in the dryer vent system. The dryer ducts remove lint and moisture from your clothes; the moist lint doesn’t always make it to the vent outside of your home. It can stick to the sides of the ducts where it builds up and eventually dries to a hard paste. This hard paste attracts more sticky lint, eventually creating a blockage which can cause a fire.

Dryer Vent Inspections and UL Safety Standards in Columbus, Ohio

Underwriters Laboratories is an independent product safety certification organization that has been testing products for safety for over a century. Dryer Vent Wizard will inspect your dryer vent system to be sure it meets UL Safety standards in your community.

Dryer Vent Wizard of Columbus, Ohio Recommends Shorter Dryer Ducts

It used be that most clothes dryers were in the basement, on an outside wall, with a relatively short, straight vent to the outdoors. These days many newer homes tend to have their laundry area located away from an outside wall; some are on the second floor. This means dryer vents are much longer and contain some elbows and bends where lint can accumulate. They’re also harder to reach therefore more difficult to keep cleaned. The ideal dryer vent system is short and straight. Dryer Vent Wizard has special tools for reaching the hard to get to places.

Dryer Vent Wizard of Columbus, Ohio Uses Rigid Venting Material, not Vinyl

Dryer ducts should be made of rigid metal, not the flexible foil or vinyl type that was used in the old days. The flexible vinyl type of tubing crushes easily and restricts air-flow. Dryer Vent Wizard professionally installs semi-rigid metal dryer vent systems in homes and commercial buildings.

Dryer Vent Wizard of Columbus, Ohio Inspects to Ensure Proper Installation

Dryer Vent Wizard does not advise use of sheet metal screws when attaching multiple sections of vent pipe together. They use foil tape instead to eliminate protuberances that cause obstructions where lint can accumulate, eventually leading to a restriction which hampers dryer vent cleaning and allows lint to build up.

Wash the Lint Screen to Remove Residue Build-up

Few people are aware that the dryer vent screen should be washed thoroughly with warm soapy water every few months to remove residue build up caused by dryer sheets. It is actually possible for the lint screen to have so much build-up on it that it will hold water! This definitely restricts air flow and causes the dryer to take more than one cycle to properly dry a load of clothes.

Bugs, Mice, Birds and Critters in Columbus, Ohio

If you have mice in your house, you have probably called exterminators or tried your own critter traps to get rid of the pests. But this is just a temporary solution until more critters come in. The only effective way to get rid of them for good is to stop them from getting into your home in the first place. The one major path of entry that mice have into your home is the dryer vent.

Birds have been known to build nests in dryer vents which prevent lint from escaping. Bees, wasps and hornets nests have also been found in dryer vents. Dryer Vent Wizard recommends annual dryer vent cleaning and regular inspections to be sure the dryer vent system is free of clogs.

Dryer Vent Cleaning and Tips from Dryer Vent Wizard of Columbus, Ohio


• Make sure your dryer vent system installation is up to city, state and manufacturer’s codes
• Replace plastic or foil vent with semi-rigid or solid metal material
• Keep the lint screen clean; check before and after each load
• Wash lint screens with soap and water every few months to remove residue from fabric softener sheets
• Have professional dryer vent cleaning done annually
• Don't keep combustibles like chemical cleaning products or chemical laden rags near your clothes dryer
• Don't leave the house or go to sleep with your dryer running
• In cold weather, check outside vent cover to make sure it's not blocked or frozen shut

Dryer Vent Wizard of Columbus, Ohio Shares Warning Signs to Watch for

• The dryer takes more than one cycle to get a load dry
• 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

Dryer Vent Wizard is the dryer vent cleaning and repair expert to call for service. The service call is very little compared to the loss of your home or the lives of you and your family if you should experience a clothes dryer fire.

Please watch this video provided by Dryer Vent Wizard of Columbus, Ohio

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26507771#26507771


Dryer Vent Wizard of Central Ohio, provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair and dryer vent installation for homes and businesses in Central Ohio, Franklin, Madison, Licking, Union and Delaware Counties, Columbus, Upper Arlington, Grandview, Worthington, Blacklick, Powell, Westerville, Dublin, Lewis Center, Delaware, Sunbury, Galena, Gahanna, New Albany, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, Pickerington, Groveport, Grove City, West Jefferson, London, Newark, Granville, Clintonville, Bexley, German Village, Canal Winchester, Victorian Village, Pataskala, Obetz, Whitehall, Galoway, Plain City, Marysville, Lancaster, and neighboring cities and communities.

43085, 43201, 43202, 43203, 43204, 43205, 43206, 43207, 43208, 43209, 43210, 43211, 43212, 43213, 43214, 43215, 43217, 43219, 43220, 43223, 43224, 43212, 43220, 43221, 43085, 43004, 43065, 43081, 43082, 43016, 43017, 43035, 43015, 43074, 43021, 43054, 43026, 43068, 43147, 43125, 43123, 43162, 43140, 43055, 43056, 43023, 43209, 43110, 43062, 43207, 43119, 43064, 43040, 43130