How to Prevent a Dryer Fire in Your Home
Lint is the usual suspect in a dryer fire. Uncleaned lint screens, or lint built up inside or around the dryer itself, can ignite if a dryer runs too hot for too long. However, the biggest risk comes from the vent itself. Here are some things to look out for:
- Dryer vents made from flexible tubing, such as foil or plastic, collect lint in areas where it sags or bends. Long dryer vents are also a risk, especially if they make several twists and turns before venting outside. Examine your current setup, and replace any flexible tubing with a rigid, metal duct.
- Pay attention to how well your dryer runs. If it feels exceptionally hot during a cycle, or if it regularly takes more than one cycle to dry your clothes, it may be time to clean your dryer vent.
- Does your laundry room feel damp or have a musty odor? A blocked dryer vent can cause warm, humid air to back up into your laundry room. This could be due to lint, but it can also mean an animal has chosen to nest in your vent. Have a professional come in to clean it out.
- Be careful if you’re washing clothes that have been stained with a volatile agent. If you’ve spilled gasoline, cooking oil, alcohol, cleaning agents, or other flammable substances on your clothes, wash them twice and line dry.
- Don’t overload your dryer, and don’t dry anything against the manufacturer’s instructions. The same applies for any item with foam, plastic, or rubber, such as a bathroom mat with a slip-proof backing.
What to do if a Dryer Fire Happens
- Dryer fires are a serious hazard, but they can be prevented with regular maintenance and care. If you do experience a dryer fire, it is important to act quickly and calmly to minimize the damage. Here are a few tips to help you and your family stay safe:
- Choose an Outside Meeting Place (i.e. neighbor's house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they've escaped.
- Once You’re Out, Stay Out! Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning building. If someone is missing, inform the fire department dispatcher when you call. Firefighters have the skills and equipment to perform rescues.
- Closing Doors on the Way Out. This slows the spread of fire, giving you more time to safely escape.
- Unblock Exits. Items that block doors and windows in your home could prevent you from escaping in the event of a home fire.
- Don’t run the dryer when you’re not home or are asleep. Only use your washer and dryer when someone who knows how to operate them is home and alert.
- Avoid using plastic or foil tubing; dryer ducts should always be metal. With the plastic and foil tubing, low points will form in the tubing where lint will collect at the low point, increasing your risk for a dryer vent fire.
- Have your dryer vents professionally cleaned regularly. Dryer vents should be inspected and cleaned yearly, but with increased household size and usage, you may want to clean them more frequently. Call us today or schedule your dryer vent cleaning online with our NADCA-certified technicians!
Have a professional clean your dryer vent regularly
If you aren’t sure when you last had your dryer vent cleaned, or if you’ve noticed any of the warning signs above, bring in a professional to take a look. Modernistic offers dryer vent cleaning in the Oxford, Michigan area, as well as throughout areas of southern and central Michigan. And if you’re having us in to clean your air ducts, ask about including a dryer vent cleaning in the service. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
