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Appliance accidents can happen, but taking steps to prevent them can go a long way towards saving not just money, but also damage to your home. Take for instance, your clothes dryer. The US Consumer Product Commission reported that clothes dryer fire casualties are estimated at 15,500 fires, 10 deaths and 10 injuries every year. Proper dryer and vent maintenance are essential to helping prevent dryer fires and property damage.
How Do Clothes Dryer Fires Occur?
Over time, a clothes dryer will accumulate lint, which is highly combustible. Together, the lint and the dryer’s heat source (either a gas flame or an electric burner) can catch fire, leaving a burning smell inside the machine and possibly even damage to the dryer and surrounding items/structures.
How Do We Prevent Dryer Fires?
1. Do not use the dryer without a lint filter or screen. Clean your lint screen before or after each load. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them. Regular lint screen cleaning can go a long way in fire prevention.
2. Provide your dryer proper ventilation. Because of the design of many homes, the length of vents can create a restriction in the air flow and an ideal place for lint to accumulate. Too many kinks or bends can also create problems with the air flow and lint build up. If a long vent run can’t be avoided, a dryer vent booster can be helpful. However, it is always recommended to have a short, straight dryer vent run. If you have a long vent run, a professional duct cleaning is recommended at minimum, once a year, to prevent lint build up.
3. Have your dryer cleaned out by an appliance repair professional if you are experiencing longer dry times, or excessive lint build up. In the case of a burn odor, which can be evidence of a minor lint fire, a dryer should not be used again until cleaned out and inspected by an appliance repair specialist.
4. Provide adequate clearance around the dryer. In the event that your dryer does catch fire, prevent the fire from spreading by making sure that the area around your dryer is free of clothes, boxes, cleaning supplies or anything else combustible.
5. Check your gas line. If your gas line doesn’t appear to be in good shape, call your appliance repair specialist to have it replaced.
If you suspect your dryer needs cleaning and is a fire risk, call your appliance repair specialists, like ASAP Appliance Service located here in Orange County. Not only can a good cleaning help prevent a fire in your dryer, but it will also increase your dryer’s lifespan and efficiency.
Sources:
How to Prevent Clothes Dryer Fires by The Laundry Dryer Alternative, Inc.
How to Prevent Dryer Fires by wikiHow
Dryer Safety Tips, National Fire Protection Association , www.nfpa.org
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