Seven Tips to Help Prevent a Dryer Fire

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Seven Tips to Help Prevent a Dryer Fire

Thousands of dryer fires are reported in the United States each year, causing many deaths, injuries, and an estimated $35 million in property loss. The leading cause of dryer fires, accounting for 34%, is failure to clean one’s dryer. J.R. Air Duct Cleaning is committed to helping New Jersey homeowners keep their families safe, by providing top-quality dryer cleaning services from our team of trained professionals. Don’t let trapped lint cause an irreversible catastrophe. Contact us today!

In this blog post, we’ll discuss seven easy tips to help prevent dryer fires in your home. By following these guidelines, and scheduling regular dryer vent servicing with J.R. Air Duct Cleaning, you can help keep your family safe from the unthinkable.

Get Your Dryer Installed by a Professional

Professional technicians are familiar with a variety of different dryer models. They will be able to install your machine with the expertise and level of care necessary to ensure that everything goes according to plan. Technicians should also be able to install a dryer vent fan if the distance from the vent to your machine is substantial, further reducing potential risks.

Clean the Lint Filter

The easiest way to prevent dryer fires in your home is to regularly clean the lint filter. Lint may seem like no more than a nuisance to your freshly laundered clothing but, with temperatures in your dryer cavity reaching 550°, these small accumulations of fibers can easily set fire to your home. Make sure that you’re familiar with your dryer’s instruction manual, so you know exactly how to clean the lint filter on your machine. You will want to clean the filter every time you load and unload the machine, to ensure that no lint gets trapped. This will not only help prevent deadly fires, but also ensure that your clothing dries faster.

Keep the Area Free From Flammables

It is important to regularly sweep up dust and lint around your dryer in order to ensure that these materials do not accumulate and cause a fire. Many homeowners choose to place their dryer in their basement or garage, but unfortunately these areas can be full of flammable materials. Do not store cleaning products, boxes, and baskets of clothing around your dryer, as these materials may also start a fire. Keeping away clutter may seem annoying now, but it is much better than having to deal with the aftermath of a potentially deadly inferno.

Be Careful With Chemical Stains

On a similar note, take extra care when you are drying clothing stained with flammables such as gas, cooking oil, cleaning products, or other hazardous substances. Line dry items with chemical stains whenever possible. If you absolutely must dry them, use the lowest heat setting, and ensure that there is a cool-down period at the end of the laundry cycle.

Do Not Overload Your Dryer

A heavy load is the most common cause of a dryer breaking down. An overloaded dryer can cause the dryer’s drum belt to work overtime, overheating the machine and potentially causing a fire. Avoid procrastinating when it comes to getting your laundry done, in order to ensure that your loads are a reasonable size for your machine. If your laundry load is bigger than your machine can accommodate, split it into several loads.

Never Run the Dryer While You Are Out

Although we’ve all been tempted by the occasional “dry and dash” when schedules are tight, it is important to never keep your dryer running when you are out of the house. Instead, turn your dryer off if you need to leave in the middle of a laundry cycle. Imagine the horror that could happen if a fire starts while you are not home. This is also true for running the dryer while you are sleeping.

Get Your Dryer Serviced Regularly

As failure to clean and maintain dryers is the number-one cause of dryer fires, it is essential that you get your dryer serviced regularly. Get your dryer cleaned professionally at least annually, and inspect your hose and vent for blockages at least every six months. You will want to hire a qualified dryer vent expert to clean your machine. At J.R. Air Duct Cleaning, our team of trained professionals can not only clean your dryer vent but also give you a professional opinion of the safety status of your dryer, and let you know whether it’s time for a new machine. We will inspect your dryer’s venting and exhaust system, and leave you with confidence that your family is safe.

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Since 2011, J.R. Air Duct Services has been keeping Bergen, Essaic, and Passaic County families safe with our professional dryer vent cleaning services. Get a free quote today or contact us for more information.