Dryer Safety – Preventing a fire caused by a dirty appliance

When was the last time you cleaned out your dryer vent?

According to statistics from the NFPA, ” The leading cause of home clothes dryer and washer fires is failure to clean them.”
You should clean out the dryer lint every time you remove a load of clothes.

(Dryer Safety

Dryer safety tips

• Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.

• Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.

• Make sure you clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.

• Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.

• Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating. Once a year, or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.

• Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a professional to make sure that the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.

• Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly.

• Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and don’t overload your dryer.

• Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed.