More than 2,900 house fires start each year because of clothes dryers, causing over $35 million in property loss. The fact of the matter is that 34 percent of these fires are directly caused by failure to clean out the clothes dryer properly. To protect your family and home, follow these simple steps to help prevent a clothes dryer fire in your home.*
What you’ll need:
- Phillips or flathead screwdriver (depending on the screws on your dryer)
- Vacuum with crevice nozzle attachment or flexible dust brush
- Air compressor
Vent cleaning steps:
- Unplug the dryer from the electrical outlet to prevent injury.
- Move the dryer away from the wall to reach the dryer vent behind the machine.
- Using either your Phillips or flathead screwdriver, remove the tube connecting the dryer to the wall vent.
- Once the vent is removed, use the vacuum crevice nozzle or flexible dust brush to remove the lint trapped in the tubing. Starting with the vent that runs into the wall, stick the nozzle or dust brush as far back as it will reach to remove trapped lint. Then, vacuum out the other side of the tube that runs into the dryer.
- Before you reattach the tube, use compressed air to blow out any hard to reach debris from the tubing connected to the wall.
- Reattach the tubing and move the dryer back in place. Once everything is connected properly, you can plug back in the machine.
- Check the exterior dryer vent, usually found on the outside wall where the dryer is connected, to make sure all debris is cleared from the screen before using the clothes dryer.
*If you are unable to perform these tasks, hire an HVAC professional.
Preventive care tips:
- Clean out the clothes dryer’s lint trap after every use
- Keep the area around the dryer free of debris
- Refrain from using too many dryer sheets as they contribute to lint buildup
- Keep your back dryer vents clean by following the steps above at least four times a year
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