Tip for April

Clothes dryers start more residential fires than any other home appliance. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are over 24,000 dryer fires each year in the United States, causing over $96 million in property damage. Inadequate maintenance is the leading cause of dryer fires, and lint is the material which usually ignites. Even well cleaned lint-screens remove only 75 percent of the lint produced. When lint builds up in dryer vents, the dryer motor has to labor harder and can overheat, thus igniting the lint.

Reduced airflow and the resulting lint build-up cause overheating by preventing rapid drying action. When this happens, the "high temperature limit" safety switch has to cycle on and off continuously to control the heater.  These switches may fail over a period of time.

Warning signs of inadequate dryer venting include clothes, especially towels and jeans, that take a very long time to dry; clothes which are hotter than usual at the end of the cycle; and when the "flapper" on the vent hood does not open when the dryer is on.

The following tips will ensure the safest dryer operation. For certain maintenance issues, you may need to call a licensed contractor, particularly if you have a gas dryer that cannot be easily moved.

Clean the lint trap after each use. Move the dryer and vacuum lint that has collected behind and underneath. Vacuum inside the duct. This is easily accomplished by removing the clamp connecting the dryer and the duct.

It is preferable not to use soft flexible ducts for vent piping. These are typically plastic films or some foil material placed over wire coils. Metal ducts will not burn if lint inside the duct catches fire. Do not kink or crush the vent pipe or fittings to make up for a lack of room behind the dryer. Vent only to the outside - do not vent the dryer into an attic or crawl space. 

Make sure the exterior vent cap is not obstructed. Trim shrubbery around the vent in order to maintain at least 12 inches of clearance.

Do not use the dryer for drying clothes or rags which have been used to absorb flammable liquids. Never use your dryer when you are asleep or away from home.

Proper unobstructed venting can decrease both drying time and operating costs. More importantly, adequate airflow helps prevent the dryer from relying on its "high temperature limit" safety controls. The use of proper venting materials to achieve maximum performance may also extend the life of the dryer and increase the life of clothing due to lower drying temperatures

A Fire Prevention Message from your Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department.