Reduce Fire Risk: Keep Your Dryer Lint-Free

12/4/2018 (Permalink)

A little lint in the wrong place can cause a fire hazard

Don’t you love the convenience of washing and drying your own clothes at home? The time, money, and energy you save is great. But SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield knows the handy convenience of a home dryer can turn into a fire risk.

Dryers Cause 14,000+ Fires
According to Consumer Reports, every year, firefighters across the country respond to about 14,630 home fires caused by clothes dryers. One-third of these fires is caused by an accumulation of lint, which means that not cleaning out your dryer vent can set you up for a dangerous situation. This is far more serious than the decrease in drying efficiency caused by partially blocking your dryer's duct work.

To avoid this risk and stop the build-up of lint fire, properly maintain your dryer. Regular maintenance means frequent cleaning and may require professional help when necessary.

Check For Lint Every Time
Every time you use your clothes dryer check for lint. Most dryers have a lint filter or screen that’s easy to access and clean by hand. It may take 10 seconds to clean it. Remember, lint is very dry and combustible. A fire can happen easily if the lint hiding inside your dryer ignites.

Do go beyond just cleaning the lint screen. Clean every part of the dryer where lint can accumulate. This means:
•    Removing lint from filter after every load.
•    Cleaning the pipe that vents your dryer to the outside once every three months.
•    Scrubbing the lint filter twice a year to remove buildup.
•    Replacing accordion-style ducts (these are risky because they can sag and allow lint to build up at low points and trap lint in their ridges. Use a rigid metal duct instead.)
•    Using duct connectors and metal clamps (or foil tape) to join sections of duct. Avoid sheet metal screws because they can catch lint and cause buildup.
•    Calling for professional cleaning if your dry times become longer.

Fire remediation experts advise cleaning the whole machine to reduce the chance of fire.

Check Your Dryer’s Ventilation System, Too

Your dryer’s indoor vent should be inspected before the dryer is installed to make sure that it’s not damaged. Protect the outdoor vent from weather and small creatures that enjoy making a home inside of it. That usually means covering the outdoor vent so that the vent stays open when the dryer is on (so that lint can escape) but closes when the dryer isn’t being used. By taking the entire ventilation system into account, you are less likely to experience a fire due to excess lint.

Fire Risk Assessment

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield can do a full house fire risk assessment for you. We can examine your dryer, the ventilation system, and other typical home situations that increase a fire risk. If you’d like, SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield can cleanup and/or reconstruct and repair any potential risks.

Call Noemi and SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
Hundreds of people have called us for help with their fire, storm, and water damage issues. They tell us that three main reasons they choose SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield are because we:
    1. Respond immediately and work quickly
    2. Have experience and solutions for virtually any water or fire damage problem
3. Answer all questions and will help with insurance claims  

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860) 216-2785
24 hour emergency service