The annual cleaning of your home’s dryer vents and lint traps could help you prevent a house fire.
Livingston Fire Chief Chief Rocky Dial said fires that originate from the dryer are more common than one would think. Dial said many people think the vent carries all of the access lint out of the dryer, not understanding the vent must be cleaned regularly.
“There’s still lint that gets trapped in the, in the duct work system,” Dial said. “Where it goes from the dryer to the outside of the residence, and builds up and creates issues.”
Dial said lint is highly flammable, as the material is fine and dry, not needing much heat to ignite and hold a flame. Dial said when lint builds up in the dryer and the duct work, many may notice the clothes are not drying like they used to as the lint prevents hot air from traveling to the clothes. Dial said the hot air blowing against the lint can cause a fire, as the lint can become so hot it will ignite.
“You know, a lot of people will start their dryer, and then they’ll leave to go to run an errand or something,” Dial said. “But by the time it catches fire, it’s caught the house itself on fire.”
Dial said people should clean and inspect dryer vents once every six months, depending on the amount of use per dryer. Dial said people should check the vent line outside and the filter inside the dryer. Dial said there is a special brush recommended for cleaning the inside portion of the dryer. Dial said vacuuming out the lint can prove helpful.
Dial said the department has conducted many safety inspections, seeing many people do not know basic maintenance is required for dryer vents and ducts.
“You’ll go around to the dryer vent and start looking at it and the flappers on the vent where it comes outside is propped open from all the lint is built up in there,” Dial said.
Dial said people can prevent lint-related fires by keeping filters and ducts clean, making sure dryer vents are clear. Dial said performing preventative maintenance on a dryer can go a long way to assuring the safety of a home.