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Dryer Fires: What Causes Them?
Dryer Fires: What Causes Them?
If you’re the owner of any kind of washer-dryer setup, you’ve likely been warned about the dangers of potential dryer fires.
More than 15,000 home fires per year are caused by clothes dryers, according to the National Fire Protection Association. And what’s worse is that many of these fires are preventable through proper precautions and dryer maintenance. Today, we’re going to look at some of the culprits behind these dryer hires and what you can do to protect yourself, your home, and even more, your family.
The Most Common Culprits
Any excess lint build-up is likely the number one cause of a dryer fire. Whether the fire started in the dryer from a lack of cleaning out the lint filter or starts in the dryer vent from not cleaning the ducts out, it can genuinely happen to anyone. Lint is highly combustible, and dryers reach high temperatures to properly dry your clothes, creating a dangerous situation for anyone that’s not taking measures to prevent dryer fires.
Additionally, dryer vents that are not correctly installed, maintained, or collapsed can be hazardous. These ducts are there to expel hot air from the dryer to the outside of your home. If a problem occurs and the air cannot escape the dryer while your clothes make lint, this could cause another tragic dryer fire.
Improper use of a dryer can indicate that you’re using it outside of the manufacturer’s guidelines. You may be overstuffing the dryer or unintentionally drying something that should not be in the dryer. You should avoid putting anything made of or contains plastic, foam, or rubber in a drying machine for your reference.
Preventing Dryer Fires
Here are the steps you can take to ensure that your home is protected from dryer fires and other hazards that your laundry appliances might cause:
- Install your dryer according to the owner’s manual, double and even triple check your work.
- Clean the dryer lint screen after every use.
- Clean out the dryer vents or hire a professional to do so at least once a year.
- Replace your dryer vent duct if it’s made of any type of plastic material with something made with foil or metal.
- Use the dryer correctly, never adding an item to the load that could melt or catch fire.
- Inspect your gas dryer routinely for leaks and check your electric dryer routinely for proper connection.
- Keep any combustible materials (like standard home cleaning products) away from the dryer.
- If a flammable liquid has spilled on a clothing item, hang dry it even after washing.
Choose Ziggurat Products
Whether it’s cleaning the ducts when your dryer vent is clogged or installing a new dryer to the vent, Ziggurat Products has everything you need. We carry dryer vent-related products that keep your dryer working great for years to come and will help to keep your family safe—interested in learning more? Shop our online store today!
We ship our products worldwide. If you’re a business owner in the laundry industry, contact us for wholesale pricing.
If you’re the owner of any kind of washer-dryer setup, you’ve likely been warned about the dangers of potential dryer fires.
More than 15,000 home fires per year are caused by clothes dryers, according to the National Fire Protection Association. And what’s worse is that many of these fires are preventable through proper precautions and dryer maintenance. Today, we’re going to look at some of the culprits behind these dryer hires and what you can do to protect yourself, your home, and even more, your family.
The Most Common Culprits
Any excess lint build-up is likely the number one cause of a dryer fire. Whether the fire started in the dryer from a lack of cleaning out the lint filter or starts in the dryer vent from not cleaning the ducts out, it can genuinely happen to anyone. Lint is highly combustible, and dryers reach high temperatures to properly dry your clothes, creating a dangerous situation for anyone that’s not taking measures to prevent dryer fires.
Additionally, dryer vents that are not correctly installed, maintained, or collapsed can be hazardous. These ducts are there to expel hot air from the dryer to the outside of your home. If a problem occurs and the air cannot escape the dryer while your clothes make lint, this could cause another tragic dryer fire.
Improper use of a dryer can indicate that you’re using it outside of the manufacturer’s guidelines. You may be overstuffing the dryer or unintentionally drying something that should not be in the dryer. You should avoid putting anything made of or contains plastic, foam, or rubber in a drying machine for your reference.
Preventing Dryer Fires
Here are the steps you can take to ensure that your home is protected from dryer fires and other hazards that your laundry appliances might cause:
- Install your dryer according to the owner’s manual, double and even triple check your work.
- Clean the dryer lint screen after every use.
- Clean out the dryer vents or hire a professional to do so at least once a year.
- Replace your dryer vent duct if it’s made of any type of plastic material with something made with foil or metal.
- Use the dryer correctly, never adding an item to the load that could melt or catch fire.
- Inspect your gas dryer routinely for leaks and check your electric dryer routinely for proper connection.
- Keep any combustible materials (like standard home cleaning products) away from the dryer.
- If a flammable liquid has spilled on a clothing item, hang dry it even after washing.
Choose Ziggurat Products
Whether it’s cleaning the ducts when your dryer vent is clogged or installing a new dryer to the vent, Ziggurat Products has everything you need. We carry dryer vent-related products that keep your dryer working great for years to come and will help to keep your family safe—interested in learning more? Shop our online store today!
We ship our products worldwide. If you’re a business owner in the laundry industry, contact us for wholesale pricing.