Do you let your clothes dryer run while you are out of the house? How about while you are sleeping? I do… quite often. So you can image how I feel after learning that my brother’s best friend is homeless today… his house destroyed by a fire that started in his clothes dryer.
Apparently, he isn’t alone. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 15,500 fires associated with clothes dryers occur each year. These fires account for an average of 10 deaths and 310 injuries and more than $84.4 million in property damage annually. The fire investigator told my brother’s friend that the fire was sparked by lint buildup. You mean the simple task of regularly cleaning the dryer’s lint tray could have saved his entire house? It’s true.
Lack of maintenance is a contributing factor. Dryers produce large quantities of lint. Up until a few hours ago I assumed the lint trap caught the majority of the lint, and that all I needed to do is clean it out after each load. I have since found that a significant amount of lint is not caught by the lint trap, rather it builds up inside the dryer. Lint build up reduces airflow, causing the dryer to overheat and possibly catch fire. As a rule, a fire starts from a spark in the machine. However, improper dryer venting practices outside the machine can play a key role in this process. Problems can also occur if you place improper items in your dryer, including foam backed rugs and shoes. (Looks like from now on I’ll be going to the laundry mat to dry my rugs.)
Besides cleaning the lint filter after each load and checking the back of the dryer where lint can be trapped, there are a number of other simple solutions you can implement to prevent a clothes dryer fire from starting in your home:
· Invest in a dryer duct made of solid metallic material. Flimsy vinyl and foil dryer ducts are combustible and their spiral-wound surfaces tend trap lint.
· Avoid kinking or crushing the dryer duct to make up for installation in tight quarters -this further restricts airflow.
· Regularly disconnect, clean and inspect your dryer duct… or hire a professional to do so. This will reduce the fire hazard.
· Do not dry clothing or fabric that has absorbed flammable liquids (alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers, dry-cleaning solvents, etc.). Flammable substances give off vapors that could ignite or explode.
· Carefully read manufacturers’ warnings which are listed in your dryer’s care manual. Also, warnings and instructions can usually be found on the inside of the dryer’s lid.
· Do not operate the dryer without a lint filter.
· Make sure that the dryer is plugged into an outlet suitable for its electrical needs. Overloaded electrical outlets can result in blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers.
· Turn the dryer off when leaving your home and don’t run it while you are asleep.
· Keep the dryer area clear of combustibles such as boxes or clothing.
By keeping your dryer clean, not only will you significantly reduce the risk of fire, but you will also save money as your dryer will run more efficiently and last longer.