Clogged Dryer Vent Fire

The vast majority of fires 92 involved clothes dryers.

Clogged dryer vent fire. After removing the pipe reach inside the dryer opening or use a vent brush to remove as much lint as possible. How to get clogged lint out of dryer venting. Failure to clean the dryer 34 percent is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires. A dryer is designed to push out the hot moist air for clothing to dry.

You ll notice that clothes are not completely dry at the end of a regular cycle. More home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months peaking in january. A clogged dryer vent can be caused by a buildup of lint in the ventilation system that is restricting air flow. The lint that has built up over the past few months or year affects not only the operation of your dryer vent but can also be a fire hazard.

As many as 15 000 fires are dryer vent related. Kim grugle finance assistant here at bpi recently hired a technician to clean her. The leading items first ignited in dryer fires were dust fiber or lint 26 of total and clothing 26 while items first ignited in washing machine fires were part of the appliance itself including wire or cable insulation 26 appliance housing or casing 24 and drive belt 11. Dryer fires are responsible for seven deaths 344 civilian injuries and 233 million in property damage annually says.

Facts about home clothes dryer fires. Hoses that are bent crimped squashed or otherwise. At least once per year unplug the dryer and check the area where the exhaust vent connects to the dryer. Dryer vent hoses can be bent crimped squashed restricted and collect more lint.

The hose or pipe is held in place by a clip or a steel clamp that can be loosened with pliers or a screwdriver. According to the national fire protection association nearly 17 000 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year these clothes dryer fires cause around 51 deaths 380 injuries and 236 million in property loss. The same is true for the check vent feature on maytag and whirlpool dryers. Unsurprisingly the leading cause of these fires at 34 is the failure to clean dryer vents.

Lint also builds up with added condensation pests in the vent what you dry and how often the dryer runs. Poorly vented or clogged dryer vent can cause fire hazards and even carbon monoxide poisoning. When a dryer vent is clogged the drying cycle can double or triple in time.