How to Prevent a Dryer Fire

February 21, 2018 | by Avid Risk

Laundry is part of life’s weekly grind.

But did you know that dryers cause roughly 15,500 home fires, 29 deaths, 400 injuries and $192 million in direct property loss each year? What’s more, most dryer fires happen in the winter. Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect yourself:

1. Most importantly, get the lint out!

The most common cause of dryer fires is failure to do a thorough cleaning. Because a lint trap is not a foolproof method for catching all the fuzzy stuff from clothes, lint can gradually build up and catch fire in the heating element or exhaust duct.

2. Install with care

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing the vent pipe. Use a short, straight pipe that’s an adequate distance from the wall. By reducing the bends in the dryer vent pipe, it creates fewer opportunities for lint to gather. If you have to vent your dryer over a long distance, consider investing in a dryer vent fan. These automatic electric devices speed up airflow through the duct every time you turn on your dryer to keep things moving along.

3. Clear out combustibles

Move any flammables like cleaning supplies far away from your dryer. Also regularly sweep out dust in the areas around and underneath your dryer.

4. Opt for a metal dryer duct

Research shows that flexible foil or plastic ducts can sag and lead to lint buildup at low points. Metal ducts of any variety don’t sag, and they’re more likely to contain any fires that would start.

5. Read tags – they matter!

If the care label reads tumble dry low, don’t turn the dryer up to high. Also use caution with certain items like bath mats, padded bras and bibs—they may contain rubber that shouldn’t be exposed to hot temperatures.

6. Exercise extra caution with flammable liquids

Wash clothing stained with volatile chemicals more than once—and definitely opt to line dry over machine dry.

7. Use your clothes to diagnose problems

Clothes that no longer feel dry or that are extra hot to the touch after a normal dry cycle are a telltale sign that something’s wrong. Before doing the next load, check for a plugged vent and clean out any lint.

8. Don’t dry and dash

Turn off your dryer if you need to step out during the laundry cycle.

9. Give the outdoor vent a peek

Make sure that the outdoor vent flap isn’t covered by snow or debris.