Prevent a Dryer Fire in Your Portland Home

10/28/2021 (Permalink)

Follow our safety tips for using and maintaining clothes dryers and other home appliances to prevent a house fire in your Portland home.

One out of every ten fatal fires in America each year is caused by an electrical malfunction. And most of these 35,000 electrical fires starts in an appliance that is dirty or not working correctly. Drill down a little further, and you’ll learn that one of the most common sources of home appliance fires is clothes dryers—and most of these fires are preventable, with just a few good habits and a little maintenance.

Typically, a dryer fire is kindled by an accumulation of lint, which is quite flammable. Lint builds up in the lint trap, obviously, but it can also accumulate inside the dryer cabinet and the exhaust hose, as well. The trouble begins if the dryer’s heating element or burner comes into contact with that dry ready-to-burn lint.

How to Reduce the Risk of a Fire in Your Clothes Dryer

Follow these everyday practices that can prevent a dryer fire:

• Clean out the lint trap after every single load of laundry
• Air-dry clothing that has combustible stains, such as gasoline or furniture polish
• If your dryer is near your furnace, keep the area clear of clothing and dryer lint
• Replace vinyl hoses with metal ones

At least annually, clean out your dryer, hose and exhaust, ideally using a dryer vent cleaning kit:

• Take out the lint screen and clean out the trap with a snorkel brush (or use a shop vac with a crevice tool)
• Pull the dryer away from the wall and disconnect the hose from both the dryer and the outside vent. Clean lint from the hose with a round brush
• Clean the exterior vent with the round brush, first from the inside, then from the outside of the house
• Clean lint and debris from the outside vent hood, then reattach the hose

Reduce Fire Risk in Your Other Appliances, Too

By following some additional common-sense practices having to do with regular maintenance and cleaning, you can help prevent a fire in your home’s other gas, heat or electric appliances.

• Don’t run appliances when you’re away from home or asleep
• Purchase and use only appliances certified by Underwriters Laboratory or another reputable testing lab
• On at least an annual basis, clean, inspect and do any necessary maintenance on your appliances—especially if the appliance is 15 years or older

We’re Here for You

The team at SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services, natural disaster and storm damage cleanup, water damage remediation and chemical cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield (860.633.8791) any time.

When you have suffered a fire or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield today at 860.633.8791

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