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”

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