Clothes Dryer Fire Prevention

Clothes dryer fire prevention is probably not something you think about a lot. But clothes dryers are a convenience and a necessity to many households and establishments; however, if they are not properly installed or maintained, critical fires can occur. The most common factor of dryer fires is a failure to clean the lint from the traps, vents, and surrounding areas of the dryer.

Clothes Dryer Fire Prevention

Ventilation is another one of the most important factors that could increase dryer fire prevention. Modern construction trends now place the laundry in non-traditional areas of the home. As a result, dryer vents must now cover longer distances to reach the outside wall, and, the area the vent must cover could contain sharp turns and bends throughout the structure of the home. When lint has to pass more than 6 feet it is almost impossible to do so efficiently. If lint is not free to escape it can accumulate in pockets along the vent. Therefore, it is imperative that you regularly inspect and clean out the dryer vent to eliminate any possible lint buildup.

Another fire hazard is the incorrect installation of dryer venting which, instead of exhausting outside, terminates instead in the attic, crawl space, or interior walls.

You can also reduce the chances of a clothes dryer fire occurring by observing indications of your appliance’s poor performance. If heavy clothes such as blue jeans or towels take a longer than normal time to dry, or if clothing feels hotter than usual at the end of the drying cycle, then you may need to clean the vent. Remember, you can hire a dryer vent service to clean the vent if it is too complex a project for you to undertake.

Summary of  Dryer Fire Prevention

In summary, if you follow the installation guidelines and perform regular inspections on dryer vents, you will further protect your home from a dryer fire. Here is a short list of recommendations from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that will minimize the chances of a dryer fire at your home:

1. Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes – If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.
2. Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically – Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping.
3. Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting materials with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct – The flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and is more susceptible to kinks and crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow.
4. Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals – Special care is required when drying clothes exposed to gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, finishing oils and stains. If possible, wash the clothes more than once and, preferably, hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle.

Stay safe.