Fire Safety: Tips for Clothes Dryer Maintenance and Use
Clothes dryers contribute to approximately 15,600 house fires, 400 injuries and 15 deaths each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Failure to clean lint from those dryers is a leading cause of fires. Improper installation and maintenance are also common contributing factors. Clothes dryers force hot air through a revolving drum to dry clothes. The lint that accumulates during this drying process is mostly caught in a filter trap, but some also accumulates in both the dryer and the dryer vent. This accumulation of debris reduces airflow through the machine, raises temperature levels, and provides a highly flammable source of fuel for a residential fire.
The USFA offers the following tips to prevent dryer fires in your home:
- "Never put synthetic materials such as rubber, plastic, foam, or pieces of cloth that have been used to sponge up flammable liquids in the dryer, even if previously washed.
- Clean the lint out of the exhaust pipe and the rear of the dryer regularly.
- Inspect your lint filter for rips each time you use it. If you see any rips, replace immediately.
- The exhaust pipe should be as short as possible and have limited bends to allow for adequate airflow.
- The American Household Appliance Manufacturers Association (AHAM) recommends the use of UL- approved rigid aluminum or steel duct or spiral-wound aluminum flex hose, NOT white vinyl hose.
- Never let your clothes dryer run while you are out of the house or asleep.
- Have gas-powered dryers inspected by a professional annually"
- Data and tips to prevent dormitory fires
- CPSC's "Top 5" Hidden Home Hazards
- Tips to guard against carbon monoxide poisoning
