Prevent a Dryer Fire With Cleaning Tips

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

Consider these Cleaning Tips to prevent a Dryer Fire in your Colorado Springs, CO house.

While dryers are some of the most pleasant appliances in the home, they are also, sadly, one of the most dangerous when it comes to home fires. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 3,000 fires are caused by dryers each year. The most common of those fires is the lint fire.

You can tell if you have too much lint built up in your appliance:

• It takes longer to get clothes dry.
• Clothes are moist after a cycle.
• The appliance feels hot when you touch it.
• You can smell the heat from your appliance.
• There's a lot of humidity in your laundry room.
• There's very little air coming from the exhaust vent.

You should empty the lint trap every time you run a cycle through the dryer, but even with this step, there may still be lint trapped throughout the dryer and through the vent. Cleaning Tips To Prevent a Lint Fire With a little bit of prevention, you can improve the efficiency of your dryer and reduce the risk of a dryer fire in your Colorado Springs, CO home.

Bear in mind these Cleaning Tips to prevent a Dryer Fire

Clean the Lint Screen

The screen in your dryer may be at the top of the machine, on the side, or at the bottom front inside the door. Pull this out every time you run a cycle and remove the lint from the screen. If the screen needs more attention, you can run it under the faucet in your sink and rinse thoroughly until it is free of dust and residue from dryer sheets.

Vacuum the Screen Vent

This step doesn't need to be repeated with every cycle but should be completed after most loads. Use the attachment on your vacuum to remove lint you can't reach by hand. Vacuuming the lint from the vent prevents clogs and keeps lint out of the other compartments of the dryer.

Deep Clean the Machine

If you have an older dryer or if your appliances are attached to gas lines, contact an appliance professional to perform deep cleans. Unplug the dryer and pull it away from the wall. Look for the access panel at the back or side of the appliance. Once it is open, use a vacuum and soft rag to remove any lint, debris, and the occasional sock. Be gentle around the heating element and wiring. With everything cleaned up, reattach the access panel. An appliance, vent, and exhaust hose deep clean should be done every six months at least. Do this more often if you run a lot of loads of laundry.

Clean the Vents and Exhaust Hose

The machine should be unplugged and pulled out for this task. Carefully find the exhaust hose and loosen the O-ring clamp that keeps the hose in place. Watch for clamps at both ends of the hose and have a screwdriver handy to remove any bolts. Once the hose is unclamped, use a vacuum or long brush to remove lint and debris. Use a cleaning rod to reach into the wall; these are available at hardware stores. Follow the directions on the package for the best results.

Cleaning the lint from your dryer regularly is a great way to avoid a lint fire. If your home has suffered from fire damage, contact fire and smoke cleanup professionals for repairs and restoration.