Dryer vent fires are the cause of 35 million dollars in property losses each year. There are 2,900 dryer fires reported every year, causing an estimated 5 deaths and 100 injuries. It’s crucial to your family’s safety that you know how to protect your home from clothes dryer fires.
Research shows that 34 percent of clothes dryer fires are caused by failure to keep the dryer vent clean. Before we take a closer look at how you can avoid becoming a statistic, let’s look at some of the ways that you can keep your clothes dryer working at an optimum safety level.
Clothes Dryers 101
Don’t DIY
Have your new clothes dryer installed by a professional. This will ensure that all the connections are set up properly, including the dryer plug, outlet, and venting hoses.
Maintenance
Keep the area behind your dryer clean and free of any flammable items. Perform periodic inspections on the venting system to check for wear and to keep it clear.
Check to make sure that the outside vent flap is opening when the dryer is being used. This is also a good time to look for animal and insect nests.
Dryer Don’ts
Don’t:
- Neglect cleaning dryer vent
- Overload your dryer
- Dry rubber, plastic, or foam items
- Leave the dryer on while you sleep or while you’re not at home
The Most Important Steps
As noted previously, the leading cause of dryer vent fires is the failure to keep the vent cleaned properly. Everyone knows that the lint filter should be cleaned, but did you know that it should be done with every single load? When cleaning dryer vent, don’t forget that lint can also build up on the back of your dryer. Make a habit of checking the back every time you finish the week’s laundry. Filters should also be washed with detergent and water every 6 months.
The dryer vent pipe can become clogged with lint over time. Some signs that indicate a clogged pipe are clothes being unusually hot, windows fogging over, musty odors in your clothes, very large amounts of lint in the filter, and clothes taking longer than normal to dry.
A professional dryer vent cleaning done on a regular schedule is the best way to keep ahead of any possible problems with your dryer. Superior Dryer Vent Cleaning is proud to offer cleaning, repairs, replacements and rerouting of dryer vents across North Texas. Call Superior Dryer Vent Cleaning today or schedule an inspection online! With Superior, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you’re taking all possible steps to keeping your dryer working at its highest efficiency and protecting your home and family!