A high number of home fires begin in your laundry room. This is usually a result of your clothes dryer, although the washer is not immune. The source of a dryer fire can be either the machine itself, or the dryer that goes away from the home. Preventing dryer fires in your Bay Area home is critical and not too difficult. Here are some facts from NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) dated June 2017.
- Fire departments answered to approximately 15,970 home fires involving laundry rooms. These fires resulted in approximately $238 million in property damage per year, 440 injuries, and 13 deaths.
- Of these fire calls, 92% were the result of the clothes dryers.
- The main items in the clothes dryer that can lead to a fire are dust, fiber, or lint.
- In 31% of clothes dryer fires, the lack of proper trap or vent cleaning is what caused it.
- Most of the clothes dryer fires occur between August and January, which is why cleanings are recommended over the summer.
The above is just the tip of the iceberg. The following are some key steps you can take to avoid such fires:
- Ensure that you always have your lint filter in your clothes dryer.
- After each use, clean out the lint filter and any lint within the clothes dryer drum.
- When you purchase or move a clothes dryer, have it installed by a professional.
- Make sure your dryer stays in good condition. You should have it inspected annually by a professional.
- Have the dryer vent cleaned annually.
- Do not leave your dryer running while you are out of the house or not awake.
- Within your venting system, use proper materials to reduce the risk.
These tips are the beginning of what you can do to reduce your risk of fires from your clothes dryer. The Irish Sweep is an expert at dryer vent cleaning. We recommend doing this each year, particularly over the summer so you avoid the risks of fires.