Spring has sprung and the urge to get the house and yard cleaned up and ready for brighter days is hitting hard. Home ownership always lends itself to a lengthy 'to do list', so here's one more thing to think about as you start working around your house this season.
It's estimated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission that dryer fires cause over 15,000 fires annually and financial damages in excess of $100,000,000. Aside from the risk of injury and death from fire, improper dryer venting can also cause a build up of carbon monoxide. These damages are preventable. With a little awareness and some elbow grease, your home can be safer place.
The main culprit in dryer fires is lint. Who would guess that the light, fluffy stuff in the filter is actually a highly combustible dust bunny just waiting to cause trouble? Aside from cleaning the filter every load, consider that lint can build up in the ducts. Often in new homes, the laundry area is located more in the middle of the house, requiring longer venting lines with a greater chance for build up in the twists and turns. Also, if your dryer is pushed right up against the wall, the venting will get crushed and your air flow limited.
So, what can you do? Check your dryer set up, make sure the venting is in good shape, and cleaned regularly. If you have vinyl or foil venting, replace it with a solid metal material. Both vinyl and foil can catch fire and the spiral would surfaces trap lint more easily. Lint can build up inside the dryer as well. Get a brush and clean underneath the lint trap. It's amazing to find out how much lint is not being caught. Depending on your usage, have your dryer professionally cleaned every one to three years. You will not only reduce your risk of fire, but increase your efficiency and the life of your dryer in the process.
Also, during this home improvement season, remember to wash any clothes that have been exposed to chemicals thoroughly, dry separately on the lowest heat setting possible or, better yet air dry.
Finally, as an important safety rule, don’t leave the house with your dryer running or run the dryer while you sleep.
There are many ways you can help keep your home and family safe, and by taking a few easy steps now you could be preventing problems later.
