Local Publication Highlights Our Journey from Appliance Repair to Specialized Vent Cleaning
We’re excited to share that Lint Dragon was recently featured in Lake & Sumter Style Magazine. The article, written by Gina Horan, tells the story of how our founder Jonathan Nesmith transformed his background in appliance repair into a dedicated dryer vent cleaning service that’s making homes safer across Lake and Sumter counties.
The feature explores Jonathan’s unique path to creating Lint Dragon. Growing up in a family of appliance repair professionals, his father Harold and uncle “Smitty” both owned repair companies for over 35 years, Jonathan learned early on that most dryer problems weren’t actually dryer problems at all.
As the article explains, Jonathan discovered a pattern during service calls throughout our area. Homeowners thought their dryers were failing when the real issue was blocked vents preventing proper airflow. This was especially common in The Villages, where many homes have dryer vents routed through the roof, a configuration that’s particularly prone to lint buildup.
Rather than simply replacing parts or entire appliances, Jonathan began focusing on what he saw as the root cause: the dryer vent system itself. After studying vent design, testing equipment, and tracking how lint buildup affects dryer performance, he realized this issue deserved dedicated attention.
That insight led to the creation of Lint Dragon as a specialized division focused entirely on dryer vent cleaning, airflow testing, and inspections. The goal was simple: help homeowners save money, extend appliance life, and reduce fire risks through proper vent maintenance.
The magazine article details some of the surprising issues we encounter regularly: vent lines completely packed with lint, roof caps sealed shut by moisture, screens that were added years ago but actually block airflow, and even birds nesting inside vent lines. In many cases, once we restore proper airflow, dryers return to normal operation without any parts or repairs needed.
As Jonathan shared with the magazine, we’re focused on sustainable growth, adding more service vehicles, bringing on the right team members, and continuing to deliver work we’re proud of. While we still maintain our appliance repair services, Lint Dragon has become our passion and specialty.
We’re grateful to Lake & Sumter Style Magazine for sharing our story and helping us spread awareness about the importance of dryer vent maintenance. If you’d like to read the full feature, you can find it here.
Have questions about your dryer vent? Contact us today for a professional dryer vent inspection and cleaning. We serve all of Lake and Sumter counties, including The Villages.