Improper maintenance can lead to your dryer catching fire. According to www.usfa.fema.gov, 34% of dryer fires are due to a lack of cleaning the appliance. To ensure your dryer is safe and not a fire risk, follow the maintenance tips provided below.
Why Dryer Fires Happen
Lint is a highly combustible material. Allowing it to accumulate in your dryer or in your dryer’s venting tube can lead to a serious fire hazard. A blockage due to lint build-up will ultimately restrict air flow, causing your appliance to overheat and catch fire. Thankfully, preventing a fire only takes due diligence and proper appliance upkeep.
Preventing Lint Build-Up
First and foremost, it’s essential to clean your dryer’s lint screen before you begin a new load of laundry. Skipping this task will only harm your dryer and leave dangerous levels of lint behind. While emptying the lint trap is definitely a step in the right direction, it shouldn’t be the only step you take. Although the screen stops the majority of lint from entering your appliance’s cabinet and vent tubing, some can get by. Unfortunately, the lint that surpasses the screen slowly builds up over time, turning your dryer into a fire hazard. Hiring a dryer repair company to take your dryer apart and thoroughly clean it at least once a year will prevent dangerous amounts of lint from accumulating and causing a devastating fire.
Other Safety Tips
- An overloaded dryer is a definite safety hazard. Not only can it cause your appliance to overheat and start a fire, but it can also lead to other major malfunctions.
- Keep the area around your dryer clutter free. Your appliance requires breathing space. If the area is piled high with storage boxes, you run the risk of constricting the air flow around the dryer, which increases the possibility of your appliance overheating.
- Inside your machine isn’t the only place lint can accumulate. Large piles can also end up on the floor behind your dryer and on the sides of your appliance. Sweeping or vacuuming these areas on a regular basis is highly recommended; otherwise, the extremely combustible material can become a safety issue.
If you’re worried about your dryer becoming a fire hazard, please contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you resolve the problem.