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What Causes Clothes Dryer Fires?
Clothes dryers must vent hot air from the dryer to the outside of
the house. Lint becomes detached from the clothes and is carried out
through the exhaust. If lint builds up in the exhaust pipe or inside the dryer, it slows the
air movement through the dryer and out the exhaust. The slower air
movement causes more lint to collect on the backside of the dryer drum, on
the dryer motor, or on the electrical connections inside the dryer,
placing the highly combustible lint on top of and adjacent to heat sources
inside the dryer.
What Can a Homeowner Do?
Using the right type of exhaust pipe is the first step in reducing
lint buildup. Some vents are made of plastic-coated flexible wire. The
4" diameter white-plastic or aluminum-foil exhaust duct typically
used to exhaust the heated air from clothes dryers can create a dangerous
fire hazard if not inspected regularly and kept clean of lint. The ribbed
surface inside can slow the air movement and catch lint.
A better solution is using sheet metal vent pipes. They are more fire
resistant and can help contain a fire should one start. Another advantage
of sheet metal vent pipes is the rigid metal cannot be smashed in between
the wall and the dryer as easily as plastic vents.
To facilitate airflow the exhaust pipe should be as short as possible
and have a limited number of bends. When designing your home or locating
the clothes dryer, place it near an outside wall. Also use pop rivets, and
not screws, to connect metal vent pipe pieces. The pop rivets do not
collect as much lint as the threaded ends of screws inside the vent pipe.
And finally, properly maintain the dryer by cleaning the lint out of
the exhaust pipe and the exhaust of the dryer once a year. Not only will
you be reducing the chances of a dryer fire, but this should result in
faster drying times and energy savings also.
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