Dry It, Don’t Fry It: Tips for Reducing the Chances of a Dryer Fire in Your Home

6/28/2021 (Permalink)

Your dryer should help you, not hinder you with fire.

How Can You Prevent A Dryer Fire?

Like dozens of other appliances and hardware in your home, your dryer was designed to make life more convenient. It allows you to get done with your chores faster so you can spend more time with friends, family, and simply doing what you love to do in North Atlanta, GA. However, they’re also one of the leading causes of house fires in the United States. The average lint fire has caused

• Nearly 2,900 emergency calls each year
  
• 5 deaths and 100 injuries annually
  
• $35 million in property damage in the span of a year
  
  

Luckily for you, there are plenty of things you can do as a homeowner to prevent one of these common fires from starting in your home.

Dry Smaller Loads

When you overload your dryer, it leads to a wide number of issues. An overloaded dryer contains more clothes for a blaze to feed on in the early stages. Drying smaller loads is not only more efficient in the long run, but it’s safer and takes a little extra time and effort from you.

Clean and Maintain Your Lint Trap

An overloaded or otherwise problematic lint trap is the leading cause of dryer fires. The dust, hair, and threads that make up the material in the lint trap are extremely flammable. If the buildup becomes too much, the high heat of the dryer itself can set it ablaze. Therefore, empty out your lint trap between every load to avoid a lint fire.

Be Aware of What You’re Drying

Unfortunately, not everything can go in the dryer. The high heat settings can burn, melt other otherwise destroy items that contain foam, rubber, or plastic. Rather than using the appliance, set these items outdoors or in another open space to dry. It’s just as effective and reduces the chances of accidentally starting a dryer fire.

Your dryer should help you, not hinder you with fire. Following these simple tips takes only minutes during your regular laundry routine and can drastically reduce the chances of a lint fire happening in your home.