How to Prevent a Dryer Fire

4/17/2020 (Permalink)

This dryer vent hose has a buildup of lint that needs to be removed to help prevent a dryer fire.

Steps to Prevent a Dryer Fire

While the kitchen is the most common room for house fires, dryer fires are another common problem. The heating of the dryer combined with lint build-up can cause your dryer to burst into flames. A lint fire is scary, but there are steps that can be taken to prevent it.

Safety First

It's important to realize that even when the lint is properly cleaned from your dryer, there is still a chance of a dryer fire. For this reason, you should never run your dryer:

• When you are sleeping
• When you are not home
• When you are going to be outside

Leaving your dryer unattended can cause the fire to spread further, which can cause extensive damage.

Vacuum Out the Lint Screen and Dryer

Your probably already clean out your lint screen every time you start a new load, however lint can get past the screen and eventually lead to a lint fire. Take your vacuum attachment and clean underneath and around the lint screen the best you can. Refer to your owner's manual to see how to safely vacuum out the inside of your dryer.

Cleaning the Hose

Pull out any lint you can reach after removing the hose from the back of your dryer and the wall. If you can't reach it all, use a dryer vent snake to push it all the way through. In addition, check the pathway from the hole in the wall to the outside of your home. Use the snake to ensure that all of the lint is out of the vent.

These steps can help to reduce your chances of a dryer fire. You should do this at least every six months, and more often if you do a lot of laundry. If you do experience a dryer fire, call SERVPRO of Aiken at 803-648-3936 and let our experts do what needs to be done to cleanup the mess.