Dryer Maintenance for Fire Prevention

12/31/2021 (Permalink)

Clean lint filters every time you dry a load of laundry.

Dryer Maintenance for Fire Prevention

The clothes dryer is a modern convenience people in Claxton, TN, use every day without a second thought. However, if these appliances aren’t properly maintained, there is an increased risk of lint fire and dryer fire. Statistics show 77 percent of dryer fires occur in one- and two-family residences, with 34 percent caused by failure to clean the appliance and 28 percent caused specifically by dust, fiber and lint in the machine.

How It Happens

When clothes are dried, they shed small fibers that create lint. This lint is then either collected in the lint trap or expelled through the dryer’s exhaust vent. It is when the lint trap and the exhaust vent aren’t cleaned that fires can occur. When the lint trap is full or the exhaust is blocked by lint or even small rodent nests, it prevents hot air from escaping the machine. The resulting heat buildup can cause the debris to ignite, resulting in fire.

How To Prevent It

The easiest way to protect against a lint fire is with regular maintenance. However, if you notice your clothes are taking longer than usual to dry or they are coming out of the machine hotter than normal, these are signs that you may have a blocked dryer vent and you should check it immediately. Otherwise, following these tips can decrease the chance of fire and improve your safety:

• Use only flexible transition ducts listed by an approved safety testing agency to vent dryer exhaust
• Only vent dryer exhaust to the outside of the home
  
• Clean lint filters every time you dry a load of laundry
  
• Clean exhaust vents every three months
  
• Clean lint buildup from the area behind the dryer every six months
  
  

These precautions can help protect you, but accidents can always happen. If you do have a dryer fire or lint fire in Claxton, TN, contact your insurance company and a professional cleanup team for the fastest recovery.