We all love the smell of fresh laundry. When you take a set of clothes out of the dryer and are instantly overcome by the warmth of your clothing and the scent of your dryer sheets, there is no other feeling like it. However, that warmth can quickly turn into a blazing fury without the proper precautions taken.
This is unexpectedly a common occurrence. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), dryers are responsible for over 92% of the 15,970 fires that washers and dryers caused between 2010 to 2014. Learn how to prevent a dryer fire below if you want to make sure you’re not a part of that statistic.
How Dryer Fires are Caused
Fires are deadly, from the toxic gases to the blazing heat. This can spread fast and can hurt many people, which is why we want to get down to the cause of this problem. Here are some ways a dryer fire can be caused.
Unclean Dryer
A staggering 34% of dryer fires are caused by failure to clean a dryer, which is the leading cause of dryer fires. An uncleaned dryer causes clogged vents, dirty dryer filters, and other problems. Without proper maintenance, there will be an accumulation of lint, which is more likely to catch fire. Additionally, a clogged outside vent limits airflow, so it’s crucial to keep your dryer in good working condition.
Improper Dryer Use
There are guidelines that you must follow whenever you use your dryers. If these guidelines aren’t followed properly, it could result in a fire hazard. For this reason, you shouldn’t overload the dryer or put anything in it that shouldn’t be there.
Mechanical Failure
Mechanical failure can also lead to a dryer fire. These failures can be brought on by wiring issues or a damaged dryer. This is another reason why maintaining your dryer is essential. You should also schedule inspections every now and then to make sure everything is in tip-top shape for your safety.
How To Prevent A Dryer Fire
Now that you know how dryer fires are caused, you have a better grasp of what needs to be done to prevent one. But we won’t leave this all on your shoulders. Below we will give you a brief, in-depth explanation of how to prevent a dryer fire.
Maintain Your Dryer
As you can tell from the previous section, dryer maintenance is essential. Similar to any other appliance, issues will arise without maintaining your dryer. We urge you to regularly check your ducts, wipe the lint out of your dryer, clean the ducts once a year, and, if necessary, replace your duct. If you follow these instructions, your dryer will be in good shape and a dryer fire will be the least of your worries.
Follow Guidelines
Terms and conditions, fine print, instructions, and things of that nature are provided for a reason. There might be serious repercussions if you don’t read these, so follow your dryer’s guidelines carefully. When the rules are followed, there won’t be any problems with the installation process. You also won’t accidentally load your dryer with dangerous materials like plastic.
Extra Tips
But wait, there’s more! Following guidelines and maintaining your dryer will definitely help you along the way. There are, however, a few other tips that can be useful. One is cleaning the area around your dryer. If the area around the dryer isn’t cleaned, it could be hazardous.
Additionally, never leave your home when the dryer is still running. It’s ideal to be present when using your dryer. Nobody wants to return to a pile of ashes they used to call home. Finally, if any flammable substances, such as gas, oil, or other chemicals, come into contact with your clothing, wash them repeatedly and hang them to dry. Your clothes could ignite in your dryer if you neglect this step.
Clean Your Dryer Vent With Air Duct Cleaning Experts
We want to make sure that you and your home remain safe. Hopefully, this blog has brought you one step closer to safety. If you need any assistance cleaning your dryer vent, Air Duct Cleaning Experts are here to help. We offer many dryer vent services to make sure your vent is thoroughly cleaned and in peak condition. To get started, contact our team to ensure a dryer fire never comes your way.