- 26 April, 2006 -

Household fires destroy homes and sometimes tragically take lives. Flames can roar through the house unexpectedly, but the culprit may have been lurking for awhile in an unexpected place: the laundry room. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 15,000 fires break out each year because of lint buildup in dryers, taking the lives of almost two dozen people. "Dryer fires are preventable with periodic maintenance to remove lint buildup inside the unit and the venting hose," Doug Rogers, Mr. Appliance president, said. "Following these tips and staying proactive will help prevent fires and potentially protect homes and save lives." Mr. Appliance recommends these tips to keep your dryer operating properly: - Only use solid metallic exhaust vents that are smooth and not spiral-wound. Vinyl, foil and spiralwound venting restrict air flow, collect more lint and are at a higher risk to catch on fire. The exhaust should only vent to the outside of the houses never to the attic or crawlspace. - The vents should be as straight as possible, with all excess venting trimmed off. Twisting or crushing exhaust piping restricts the airflow - Don't use screws to put your vent pipe together, because the screw shafts inside the piping collect lint and cause additional friction. - Keep the exhaust duct in good condition by disconnecting, cleaning and inspecting the duct on a regular basis. Or hire a licensed appliance professional to check it out for you. - Keep the dryer as lint-free as possible by cleaning the lint screen or filter before or after each load of clothes. Hire a licensed appliance professional to clean the interior of the dryer chassis and inspect the rollers, belt, motor and heating system every one to two years. About Mr. Appliance : Established in 1996, Mr. Appliance is the only franchise providing full-service appliance service and repair, both commercially and residentially. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its "Franchise 500," "Top New Franchises" and "Top 101 Home-Based Franchises," Mr. Appliance franchisees provide services to both residential and commercial customers at more than 90 locations worldwide. Mr. Appliance is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc. For more information or to find the location nearest you, visit our Web site at www.mrappliance.com. About The Dwyer Group : The Dwyer Group, Inc., based in Waco, Texas, is a holding company of six franchise businesses, each selling and supporting a different franchise under the following service marks: Aire Serv , Glass Doctor , Mr. Appliance , Mr. Electric , Mr. Rooter (Drain Doctor in the UK), and Rainbow International . Collectively, these independent franchise concepts offer customers world-wide a broad base of residential and commercial services. The Dwyer Group also owns Harmon Solutions Group , a third party administrator for the insurance community. The Dwyer Group is a portfolio company of The Riverside Company, a private equity firm with offices in New York, Cleveland, Dallas and San Francisco. For more information on The Dwyer Group, or its franchise concepts, visit the company's Web site at www.dwyergroup.com.

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