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MEDIA ADVISORY...

CLOTHES DRYER FIRES

Clothes dryers can cause house fires.  By following these simple guidelines, you can minimize the chance of a dryer fire in your home:

1. Always clean the lint from  the filter after every load of clothes
2. Do not dry clothing/fabric on which there is anything flammable (alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers, dry-cleaning solvents, etc.). Flammable substances give off vapors that could ignite or explode.

 

Set a schedule to perform these tasks:

1. Clean out the vent duct work whether it is metal or flexible tubing
2. Clean the inside of the dryer of lint build-up.  This is the area around the drum.  Consult your instruction manual for directions on accessing the heating element and cabinet interior.   Be sure to follow all safety precautions.
3. Take the lint filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and scrub it with a brush.  In some cases, the filter mesh may be clogged with an invisible waxy build up from fabric softener sheets.  This build up can contain heat, possibly burning out the heating unit or worse, start a fire.
4. If your dryer is vented using plastic vent pipe, consider changing it to metal. 

 

By following the above recommendations, not only may you reduce your chance of a fire but your dryer will work more efficiently and may last longer!