In 2010, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported an estimated 16,800 home structure fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines. This resulted in 51 deaths, 380 injuries and $236 million in direct property damage. The leading cause of these fires involved clothes dryers (92%).
Leading causes of dryer fires involved:
- Dust, fiber, or lint – 29%
- Clothing – 28%
- Unclassified soft goods or clothing – 9%
The risk of fire is roughly the same for gas and electric powered dryers.
Here are some tips on dryer maintenance:
- Clean the lint trap every time you use the dryer
- Inspect your lint filter for rips and replace immediately if one is detected
- Don’t pile clothes on top of the dryer (make sure clothes don’t fall behind the dryer)
- Clean behind/underneath your dryer every few months
- Use metal pipe to vent your dryer; plastic piping will melt out. Do not have bends in the piping.
- Check the dryer vent periodically while the dryer is running and make sure as much air is coming out of the dryer vent as the dryer is putting out.
- Inspect and clean your dryer vent regularly.
- Be very cautious when laundering items that might be contaminated with flammable liquids. Wash clothes contaminated with flammable contaminates (eg gas, cooking oil, stains) at least twice and then line dry. Usually one wash will not remove the contaminant. The dryer temperature can ignite a reaction to the chemicals on the clothing.
- Several companies offer dryer vent cleaning services if you’d rather have it cleaned/inspected by a professional
- Have gas dryer lines inspected annually to ensure the line and connection are intact.
You also want to be sure you never leave the dryer unattended, or run it while you are sleeping. Please follow these tips to try and avoid this type of tragedy from occurring in your home!
