A woman overloading a dryer.
Doing laundry is likely something you do as a part of a daily routine. Did you know the leading cause of clothes dryer fires in the home is failure to clean them and how extremely important it is to take care of your clothes dryer as part of an overall home fire safety plan?
A few safety tips can help you prevent a clothes dryer fire in your home.
- Have your clothes dryer installed and serviced by a licensed professional.
- Rigid or flexible metal exhaust vent material should be used to help maintain proper exhaust air flow and drying time.
- Make sure the exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open easily when the dryer is operating. Before operating your clothes dryer during winter storms, make sure the vent flap is not covered by snow and ice.
- Dryers should be properly grounded. Make sure the right electrical plug and outlet are used and your dryer is connected properly.
- Follow your manufacturer’s operating instructions and never overload your dryer.
- Never use your clothes dryer without a lint filter in place. Make sure you clean the filter either before or after each load of laundry. In addition, remove all lint that has collected around the drum. Once a year, or more frequently if you notice that it is taking longer than usual for your clothes to dry, clean the lint out of your exhaust vent pipe or have a professional dryer lint removal contractor do it for you.
- Keep your clothes dryer in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a qualified professional to ensure the gas line and connection are fully intact and free of leaks.
- Keep the area around your clothes dryer clear of items that can burn such as clothing, boxes and cleaning supplies.
- Always turn your clothes dryer off if you leave your home for any period of time or when you go to sleep.
If you have any questions regarding fire safety for clothes dryers, please contact the Division of the Fire Marshal, Office of Research Services at (301) 496-0487.
