Proper Maintenance Prevents Dryer Fires

KOLO 8 spoke with Jeff Knudtzon, Owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Northern Nevada, about proper dryer vent maintenance for fire prevention.

SPARKS, NV - The dryer in your laundry room could cause a fast-moving fire if you're not doing the proper maintenance.

You probably clean the lint trap every time you do laundry, but there is more lint hiding in your walls and under your floors.

"Over time, lint builds up on the walls of the vent lines. Kinda like plaque on the arteries. It builds up, it grabs more lint," said Jeff Knudtzon, Owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Northern Nevada.

Knudtzon’s primary job is clearing lint from dryer vent lines. We followed him Wednesday as he worked on a dryer ventilation system in Sparks.

"So what happens is you wind up with lint building up real quickly in it," Knudtzon said from underneath the home.

All it takes for that lint to turn into kindling is heat source. A dryer, for example.

"Some people have had little fires and they don't even know it," said Knudtzon. "15,000 fires a year happen directly related to dryers overheating and catching fire."

Preventing dryer fires is simple: have you system professionally cleaned every couple years.

One sign that your dryer vent may be clogged is if it takes longer than normal for your clothes to dry.

Watch the story here:
http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Dryer-Lint-a-Fire-Hazard-352424741.html

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