Help! Dryer Fire!

How likely
is it that your dryer will go up in flames causing costly damages?

According to
the Insurance Journal, clothes dryer fires cost $35 million a year. The article
goes on to report that the most common reason for these fires are dirty dryers.
The top things that catch on fire in the dryer are dust, fibers, lint, and actual
clothing.

Other causes
of dryer fires are improper installation of the dryer, and washing rugs and
sneakers in the dryer. Therefore, it is extremely important to make sure that
you maintain your dryer on a regular basis.

Here are some maintenance tips from Safety at home:                              

·        
Clean the lint trap before and after drying each load
of clothes.

·        
Don’t forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint
can be trapped.

·        
The interior of the dryer and venting system should be
cleaned periodically by qualified service personnel. If you notice the drying
time is longer, clean the vent system thoroughly to ensure proper airflow.

·        
Replace plastic or vinyl exhaust hoses with rigid or
flexible metal venting.

·        
Do not dry clothing/fabric on which there is anything
flammable (alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers, dry-cleaning
solvents, etc.). Flammable substances give off vapors that could ignite or
explode.

·        
Don’t forget to read manufacturers’ warnings in use
and care manuals that accompany new dryers. Also, warning markings can usually
be found on the inside of the dryer’s lid and take only minutes to read.

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