Clothes Dryer Fires & Lint
Clothes dryers cause thousands of home fires each year. The main cause is failure to clean: lint builds up in the filter and vent, traps heat and ignites. A few simple habits prevent most of these fires.
- Homeowners
- Renters
- Landlords
Clean lint every load
- Clean the lint filter before or after every load. Also pull the filter out and check the housing; wash it occasionally with soap and a brush if it is clogged with a film from dryer sheets.
- Vacuum around and behind the dryer and clean the lint trap slot.
- Clean the vent duct and the outside vent at least once a year, or more often if you do a lot of laundry. Hire a professional if you can't reach it all.
Venting
- Vent the dryer outdoors, never into an attic, crawl space, garage or basement.
- Use rigid or semi-rigid metal duct. Plastic or foil flexible ducts can sag, trap lint and burn. Keep the duct short and straight, with as few bends as possible.
- Make sure the outside vent flap opens freely and is not blocked by snow, bird nests or plants.
- Do not use screws in the duct that catch lint; use foil tape or clamps.
- Do not crush the duct when pushing the dryer against the wall.
Warning signs
- Clothes take longer than normal to dry or are very hot
- The laundry room smells of burning or feels hot and humid
- The outside vent flap does not open or there is lint outside
- The top of the dryer is very hot
- If you see any of these, stop using the dryer and clean the duct or call a professional
Safe use
- Do not run the dryer when you leave the house or go to sleep.
- Do not dry items with oil, gasoline, solvents or cooking oil, including rags and clothes with these on them. They can self-heat and ignite even after washing. See Oily Rags.
- Do not dry foam, rubber or plastic items that are not heat-safe.
- Do not overload the dryer.
- Keep the area around the dryer clear of boxes, cleaning products and clothing piles.
- Gas dryers: if you smell gas, leave and call the gas company. Have connections checked by a licensed pro. See Gas Leaks.
- Have working smoke and CO alarms. See Smoke & CO Alarms.
Standards & references
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