Clothes dryer fires often start under the dryer when the motor overheats due to lint build-up and reduced air-flow. Lint is very combustible; any lint that has accumulated underneath and behind the dryer will also ignite. The draft from the dryer vent system will pull the fire up into the dryer duct, spreading the fire throughout your home. Here are some tips for preventing a devastating clothes dryer fire:
Proper Materials and Installation
All dryer exhaust should be vented outside, not into a crawl space or the attic. It is important that your dryer vent system be inspected by a professional to be sure it meets current UL safety standards and that it is not clogged with lint build-up.
Many newer homes have the laundry rooms upstairs, where the bedrooms are, for convenience; however, these systems often have very long dryer duct systems. Dryer ducts should be as short as possible; 5 to 10 feet or less is much more efficient in removing heat, moisture and lint from the dryer to the vent outdoors.
Dryer ducts should be as straight as possible, with no turns or bends that can cause lint to become trapped and reduce optimum air-flow.
Dryer vent systems must be of solid metal or semi-rigid material; not the vinyl or plastic tubing that has been used in the past. Vinyl or plastic becomes brittle and cracks and it overheats easily, providing additional fuel if a dryer fire should start. Flexible foil vents can sag or be crushed, also reducing air flow and trapping lint.
Proper Maintenance:
Besides the obvious, cleaning the lint screen between loads of laundry, there are other important things you should do to be safe from a dryer fire.
Wash the lint screen every few months to remove residue from dryer sheets
Avoid drying items soaked in flammable substances, even if they have been washed first – line dry these items
Do not store flammable substances near the clothes dryer
Check the vent outdoors often to be sure it is opening and closing properly and that it is not obstructed
Make sure birds or other small animals cannot get into the dryer vent
Do not leave the house or go to sleep while the dryer is running
Have a professional clean your dryer vent system at least once a year
Warning Signs
Clothes take more than one cycle to dry
Laundry feels very hot when you remove it from the dryer
Laundry has a moldy smell after the dryer cycle
There is no visible lint on the lint screen
The dryer repeatedly shuts off before the cycle is complete
A professional dryer vent cleaning is recommended each year to be sure your dryer vent system is up to code and operating properly. Professional dryer vent cleaning specialists have the tools necessary for getting to the hard to reach areas of your dryer ducts to be sure there is no blockage.
Dryer Vent Wizard of Louisville, Ky provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair, dryer vent installation, dryer vent inspections and all dryer vent services for homes and businesses in Jefferson and Franklin County, Lexington, Frankfort, Shelbyville, Nicholasville, Elizabethtown, Lawrenceburg and neighboring cities and communities.
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Dryer Vent Cleaning Louisville KY 502-235-0734: Dryer Vent Wizard specializes in dryer fire prevention and “urgent response” dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repair and dryer vent installation. Dryer vent services by the Wizard keep dryers functioning properly, prevent dryer fires and reduce energy costs.