York Region Businessman Works to Educate Public About Dryer Fires

NEWMARKET, ON--(Marketwired - Feb 12, 2014) - Data from the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management indicate that Ontario had 961 dryer fires resulting in 51 injuries and more than $17 million in property loss from 2008 to 2012. 

"Unfortunately, few people are aware of how easy it is for dryers to catch fire if they are not properly installed, cleaned and maintained," said Tyler Johnson, professional dryer exhaust specialist and owner of Dryer Vent Wizard servicing the York Region, www.YorkRegionDryerVent.ca.

In the U.S., it is estimated that poorly maintained or clogged dryer vents are the leading cause of appliance fires, resulting in more than 15,500 dryer fires every year. These are only the reported cases.

"Because of privacy laws in Canada, the public has little awareness about a fire's cause unless the property owner agrees to release that information," said Johnson, who pointed to a highly publicized recent dryer fire that destroyed the home of Mayor Jim Ellison in Royal Oak, Michigan. "He stepped forward to share his family's loss on Facebook and was interviewed by local reporters to help warn others."

According to Johnson, some warning signs of a potential dryer fire include excess lint build-up behind the dryer, longer drying time, overheat shut-off, a hot dryer and hot clothes, no lint on the lint screen, and lint around the door seal.

He also shared that a dryer's lint filter only catches a fraction of the lint produced in the drying process. Lint build-up along with improper vent installation can reduce airflow which causes the dryer to work harder. Lack of cleaning and maintenance are major contributors to dryer fires. In addition, the use of plastic or foil vents, instead of the recommended rigid metal vents, increases the probability of fire spreading. 

While Johnson acknowledged other benefits to maintaining and cleaning your dryer such as lower utility costs, less drying time and increasing the life of your clothing, he considers fire prevention to be foremost.

Johnson's company Dryer Vent Wizard (DVW) specializes in dryer vent repair, replacement, alteration, cleaning and maintenance for residential and commercial clients. He is the first Canadian franchise owner of this 10 year-old fast growing company and joins more than 70 franchisees located throughout North America. 

Johnson's DVW services Ontario's York Region including Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King, Georgina, Whitchurch, Stouffville, Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan.

About Dryer Vent Wizard
Headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Dryer Vent Wizard is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). For more information and to learn more about franchise opportunities, visit www.DryerVentWizard.com or call 866-498-SAFE (7233) in the U.S. and 866-395-SAFE (7233) in Canada.