Clothes Dryer Fire Safety in Your Brooklyn Heights Home

2/8/2021 (Permalink)

One of the most common causes of house fires is also one of the most preventable. According to the US Fire Administration, clothes dryers force hot air through a turning drum. Lint, which is accumulated from wet clothes tumbling in the dryer, is captured by the filter, or carried through the vent system. This accumulation of lint can lead to reduced airflow and become a potential fire hazard. To prevent this, here are some simple Do’s and Don’ts in clothes dryer fire safety for your Lyndhurst home:

-DO have your clothes dryer installed by a professional

-DO read manufacturers’ instructions and warnings that come with new dryers

-DO clean the lint filter before and after each load of laundry

-DO clean the lint filter with a nylon brush every 6 months

-DO clean the lint out of the vent pipe every 3 months

-DO inspect the venting system behind the dryer to ensure it is not damaged or restricted

-DO make sure nests of small animals and insects are not blocking the outside vent regularly

-DO keep the area around the clothes dryer free of items that can burn

-DON’T use a clothes dryer without a lint filter or with a lint filter that is damaged or clogged

-DON’T overload the dryer with too many clothes

-DON’T dry anything containing materials such as foam, rubber, or plastic

-DON’T dry anything with instructions that state “dry away from heat”

-DON’T dry items that have encounter anything flammable (alcohol, oils, gasoline, etc.)

-DON’T leave a dryer running if you leave home or when you go to sleep.

For more information, visit: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/clothes_dryers.html

For any large loss due to fires, call SERVPRO of Beachwood and Cleveland Northeast at 216-464-4498. We service the Cleveland area including, but not limited to Valley View, Mayfield Heights, and Beachwood. We will make it "Like it never even happened."®