Dryer Vent Safety, Cleaning, and Maintenance
Dryer Vent Safety and Maintenance
The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 15,000 clothes dryer fires occur annually. These fires account for and average of 10 deaths, 310 injuries, and more than $67.7 million in property damage! (See our YouTube video on our home page). It is imperative that you have your dryer vent inspected and cleaned yearly. If your vent is 5 feet long, and you are a do-it-yourselfer, have at it, but if it is longer, has elbows, flows under the house or up to the roof, HIRE A PROFESSIONAL! You do not have the proper equipment to do a thorough job.
The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires was a lack of maintenance, followed by unidentified or unknown-type mechanical failure. Clothing (in the dryer) was the most common source of ignition of dryer fires, followed by dust, lint, or fibers.
If your unit is taking a long time to dry, it is time for a check up! Delay can not only cause your dryer to fail due to stress on components but it can be an indication that you are heading for a dangerous situation!
Clean your lint filter every single load. It cuts down on drying time, saves energy, and discourages lint buildup. And teach your kids those good habits!
Do not use dryer sheets. Studies have found that dryer sheets leave a residue in the dryer and can be detrimental to the machine’s components as well as contribute to vent lint buildup.
Have your vent professionally cleaned yearly. It is an absolute must, especially if your ducting runs up to the roof, under the house, has elbows, or is longer than 5 feet.
Do not use plastic vent material. It is not to code and it is a fire hazard! And much of the “accordion style” vent material that looks like aluminum is really silver-colored plastic. Do not be fooled!
Do not push your dryer back too far against the wall, pinching off the vent. It simply won’t dry well and causes the lint to back up into the unit, causing a fire hazard.
Keep the area under and surrounding the dryer clean. A fire can spread in seconds. (see YouTube video on the home page)
Make sure the exterior vent is not blocked. It needs to be clear of any type of debris, birds nests, soil, firewood, etc.
Do not vent your unit into the laundry room. It’s dangerous to do so. Also, do not put a nylon stocking at the end of the vent to catch lint or vent it into a bucket of water. The air needs to flow freely to work properly.
Do not dry any rags that have had contact with a flammable liquid. The chemicals may not have been removed in the wash cycle and can ignite in the dryer.
What kind of venting do you have in the WALLS of your home? If you have an older home, check our your venting; your venting may not be to code and a fire hazard. It must be replaced!
If you follow these simple suggestions, you can add years to your dryer and keep your family safe.
