This post is sponsored and contributed by Patch Spotlights, a Patch Brand Partner.

The following article is sponsored by Dryer Vent Wizard of Norwalk.

Dryer Vent Wizard provides professional dryer vent cleaning services to make your dryer safer and more efficient! Patch had a chance to talk to Jim Selden, the owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Norwalk.

Patch: Tell us about your business.

Selden: Dryer Vent Wizard reduces the risks and frustrations caused by clogged, damaged and poorly installed dryer vents.

Obstructed dryer vents are the source of thousands of house fires every year. People often don't recognize the signs of a clogged or damaged dryer vent, and this oversight can have disastrous results, including the loss of life and property. Gas dryers pose the further threat of carbon monoxide backing up into your home.

Clogged or damaged dryer vents also force your dryer to work harder and longer, burning expensive energy and wasting your time and money. Long dry times also damage fabrics.

Our trained professionals inspect, clean, and repair dryer vents to reduce risk, and dry your clothes efficiently. Since we ONLY do dryer vents, we are experts, and carry the best tools, equipment, and supplies with us so we can get almost every job done in one visit … even new installations.

We provide our customers with prompt, polite, professional service, which includes leaving your home the way we found it.

We are a small, local business serving lower Fairfield County.

Selden: We have been operating for about a year; however, Dryer Vent Wizard is a franchised business, and other Dryer Vent Wizard’s currently operate in New Haven and Hartford counties.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?

Selden: After many years in the corporate world commuting to NYC, I decided to launch a local business that would allow me to spend more time in Fairfield and become a closer part of the community. It was important to me that the business provide an important service for the community that was not well addressed by other businesses. After hearing from a friend who survived a dryer fire, and learning more about the problem, I knew that I had found a business that would provide real value — preventing home fires — and one in which I could excel in terms of customer service and professionalism.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?

Selden: Prevent fires. Save time and energy.

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Selden: One of the biggest challenges we face regularly is when we find that a homeowner’s vent line is not made of rigid aluminum, but instead uses flexible duct as the main vent line. Flexible duct is not permitted per building codes for many reasons. We cannot clean these flexible lines because our powered brushes will tear them apart. If a vent line is exposed in an attic or basement, it is easy to replace the vent line with rigid aluminum. But if it’s running in walls and ceilings that need to be opened, it’s a much larger job. For many homeowners, this presents a problem — and expense — they did not even know they had until our inspection. Our challenge is to explain the important reasons to complete the work.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Selden: Knowing that we leave each customer’s home safer than when we arrived. This is especially satisfying when we service elderly people in condos or homes where severe issues have developed over the years, and where maintenance staff (if they exist), do the minimum — often badly. Knowing that an elderly person is now safe in their home because we care and do the job right, is extremely satisfying.

Patch: How would you say your business distinguishes itself from the others?

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Selden: Do what you say you’re going to do — and do it well. Leave customers happy that they called you, and they will recommend you to others.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Selden: Only that we’re expanding with new vans and technicians. We have experienced extraordinary demand for our service and are doing our best to keep up!

Patch: How much does a dryer vent cleaning cost?

Selden: Many customers expect that dryer vent servicing can be easily provided over the phone, and that a flat price is standard. However, cleaning a 30 ft. vent line with a booster fan that runs from the basement to the roof and takes several twists and turns will cost more than a 4 ft. vent line that runs straight out of a wall. It just takes more time.

Accessibility is also a factor. Do we need to clean a vent 25 ft. off the ground, work in a tight crawl space or on the roof? Is a vent line 80% packed with lint? Do we need to move a stackable unit off a drip tray in a tight space? Does other repair work need to be done that we wouldn’t know about over the phone? These types of factors all affect pricing, and to provide an accurate price we need to inspect on site. Our technicians will complete their inspection and provide you with an itemized price quote BEFORE doing any work.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Selden: You can find us on our website or Facebook. You can also read our reviews when you search "Dryer Vent Wizard of Norwalk" on Google!

This post is sponsored and contributed by Patch Spotlights, a Patch Brand Partner.