Doing the laundry is a regular chore and you probably don’t think twice about using your dryer. Just like every other appliance in your home, however, making sure your dryer is in proper working condition and is well-maintained is essential; not only to maintain its efficiency but more importantly to ensure the safety of your home and family.
There’s no denying that your clothes dryer makes doing the laundry a lot more convenient; but, if the appliance isn’t properly maintained, it can become a serious fire hazard. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that there nearly 15,000 dryer fires occur each year. These fires cause hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage, hundreds of physical injuries, and worst of all, it’s estimated that they’re responsible for nine deaths. What’s the cause of these dryer fires? Improper ventilation as a result of lint buildup.
These statistics are quite sobering, but you don’t have to become one of them! With the following tips, you can reduce the risk of your dryer becoming a fire hazard and protect your home and family.
Clean the Lint Trap
This simple, mundane task is one of the most important things that you can do to prevent the risk of your dryer becoming a fire hazard and improve the safety of your home. The trap sits on the interior of your dryer, usually on the top, bottom, or side of the door. Every time you run a load of laundry through the appliance, the lint that falls off accumulates in the lint trap, and it needs to be cleaned out; not once a month or once a week, but after every single load. Lint is highly combustible and can easily ignite; the thicker the accumulation, the greater the risk.
Cleaning out the lint trap every time you use your dryer will not only reduce the risk of fire and improve your safety, but will also increase the efficiency of the appliance. Your laundry will dry faster, saving you time and money on your utility bills.
Clean the Dryer Vents and Ducts
The lint trap isn’t the only place where lint accumulates in your dryer; it accumulates in the ventilation system, too. A dryer’s ventilation system consists of vents and ducts, which connect the appliance to the exterior of your home. When you turn your dryer on, outdoor air is drawn into the appliance through the vents and ducts, it’s heated up, and it circulates around your laundry. The hot air and moisture is exhausted out of the dryer and your home through the vents and ducts, too. Needless to say, the ventilation system is vital.
It isn’t just hot air and moisture that travels out of the ducts and vents; lint does, too. Over time, the accumulation can block the airflow, which will not only reduce the efficiency of the appliance, but will also increase the risk of fire. To prevent your dryer from becoming a fire hazard, having the ventilation system cleaned by a certified, experienced, and reputable professional is a must. Dryer vents and ducts should be cleaned every six months; however, if it’s taking longer than usual for your laundry to dry, the exterior of the appliance is hot to the touch, your utility bills have unexpectedly increased, or if it smells like something is burning when you run your dryer, you should have it cleaned sooner.
Don’t Overload
Laundry is a tedious chore, and while it might be tempting to toss everything into one load to get it done faster, don’t! Even if the laundry fits, oversized loads can increase the risk of a dryer fire. The excess weight of the load can strain the heating elements, drum belts, pulleys, spindle bearings, and other components that make the appliance work. This, in turn, will cause the dryer to generate higher temperatures and cause friction that could potentially spark a fire. Additionally, overloading the dryer can damage the appliance, which can result in costly repairs. Plus, heavy loads won’t dry thoroughly and need to be re-run, further increasing the strain on the dryer – and your utility bills.
When you need fast, efficient, and affordable dryer vent cleaning services, get in touch with the company that New Jersey residents trust most: Apex! Our team of certified, licensed, insured, and experienced technicians will make sure your dryer’s ventilation system is thoroughly cleaned, reducing the risk of fire, improving the safety of your home and family, and enhancing the efficiency of the appliance. For more information, to request a free price quote, or to schedule an appointment for dryer vent cleaning services, call 732.314.7171 today!
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