You may be surprised to know that one of the most common household fires is caused by clothes dryers. Annually, on average, there are more than 12,000 house fires causing $88 million in property damage, 300 injuries and 15 fatalities caused by clothes dryers according to a FEMA study. The worst part is they are nearly all preventable losses with a little help from the home owner.
Clothes dryers are a modern marvel and an indispensable convenience. We use them constantly and they work so well that we tend to ignore them until they make funny noises or quit working. But, taking your clothes dryer for granted is a BIG mistake. If clothes dryers are not properly installed or maintained, life threatening fires occur.
What causes clothes dryer fires? Clothes dryers must vent hot air from the dryer to the outside of the house. During the drying process, damp lint from clothes is carried through the exhaust system.
As lint builds up in the exhaust pipe or inside the dryer it slows down the air movement out the exhaust and overheats the dryer. The slower air movement causes even more lint to collect on the backside of dryer drum, on the dryer motor, and on the electrical connections inside the dryer. This places highly combustible lint fibers adjacent to the heat sources inside the dryer which may ultimately lead to a fire. “Failure to clean” is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
Don’t ignore these signs that your dryer vent may be obstructed:
Clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle
Drying requires longer times than normal
Clothes feel hotter than usual at the end of the cycle
Outside the dryer is unusually hot
Damper (or flappers) on exhaust termination doesn’t open or barely opens during drying
Laundry room feels warmer or more humid than normal
Burnt smell in laundry room
TAKE ACTION! What can a homeowner do?
At least once a year have your dryer serviced and cleaned to remove any lint collected on the motor, wires and inside the exhaust pipe. This is critical to safe operation of your dryer.
Replace the white vinyl type flexible exhaust hose with flexible metal or sheet metal vent pipe. The metal is more fire resistant and can help contain a fire should one start. Metal pipe is also less likely to kink than vinyl exhaust hose.
Exhaust hoses should be kept as short as possible and have a minimum of bends to facilitate adequate airflow.
Locate the dryer as close to an outside wall as possible for safe venting.
Do not operate your dryer when no one is home or while you are sleeping.
During times of snow accumulation, your home dryer vent could be blocked by snow outdoors. Make sure to check that the vent is clear to ensure overheating the duct or the dryer, which could lead to a fire.
The content of FAQ articles are general in nature and are not intended as a substitute for professional legal, financial, or insurance counsel for individuals. Insurance coverage forms vary by issuing company and by state. For specific advice contact us.
