As there are many potential risks for a house or building fire to occur, many individuals do not stop to think about the dryer vent as a possible factor.

In fact, dryer vents are considered one of the leading causes of both house and apartment fires. Dryer vents can be clogged by lint, dust, and other debris. This can cause the dryer to overheat, which poses a fire hazard. It can also lead to poor drying performance and even damage your clothing.

Each year, dryer vent fires have accounted for $35 million in property loss, according to the United States fire departments. This is not to mention the 5 deaths and 100 injuries that have occurred as well. With an average of 15,000 house fires caused by dryer vents, there is not much attention focused on the severity of this problem.

In addition to saving money on energy bills each month, frequent dryer vent cleanings will effectively prevent the risk of a house fire. In this blog, you will learn about the importance of keeping your dryer vent clean in order to reduce the risk of fire at home.

The Most Common Causes of Dryer Vent Fires

Clogged dryer vent pipe

If a dryer vent is not maintained regularly, lint will build up inside it over time, eventually forming a blockage that prevents hot air from escaping the dryer’s exhaust system. This causes dangerous build-up of pressure inside your dryer’s motor housing, which can lead to an explosion or fire.

Severely restricted or broken vent pipe

If your vent pipe is too small, or if it goes through a tight space such as an attic or crawlspace (where vibrations can cause it to break), then this can also restrict airflow through your vent pipe and cause dangerous pressure build-up in your dryer’s motor housing.

Improper vent installation

If your dryer’s venting system isn’t properly installed, it could cause damage to your home as well as increase your risk of a fire from an electrical malfunction or sparks from faulty wiring inside the unit itself. Improperly installed vents can also lead to excessive moisture buildup in your home due to improper airflow circulation from blocked vents leading outside of the house through the roof or gutter system.

Vent Safety

The first step towards preventing a house fire is to have your dryer vent frequently inspected by a professional. When these inspections are done on a regular basis, you are ensured that you are saving the most money on your energy bill with a clean dryer vent.

With a clean dryer vent, you can also reduce the risk for the following:

• Carbon monoxide entering the home
• Trapped moisture within the wall, opening the risk for mold
• Having to run the dryer two times to effectively dry your clothes

With a clean dryer vent, heat will not be trapped within the vent as the dryer will not need to work harder than what is required. Finally, you can be sure your clothes are dried on time and be sure that there is no risk of fire within the vents.

What Happens During Dryer Vent Inspections

As soon as a professional dryer vent technician arrives, he/she will examine a number of items in order to ensure that all areas of the vent are clean and working properly. The inspection includes the following:

• Ensure that the dryer vent is not connected to any other vents, such as the air duct system. They will also ensure that the hot air is released outside and not into the chimney, attic, or crawlspace.
• Ensure that the aluminum hose is in good condition and meets the appropriate standards. Any white hoses will definitely need replacing; they have been outlawed because of their lack of UL Listing. Just be sure that the replacement hose is short, not crushed, or contains kinks. Finally, the outside vent flap should remain open while the dryer is running.
• Use a brush along the vent to blow away any lint and/or debris contained within the vent.
• Keep out rodents and insects by ensuring the gravity flapper is working properly.

In order to safely prevent the risk of this happening in your home, be sure to have the dryer vents inspected and cleaned annually.

Fire Restoration from a Dryer Vent

While it is essential to have the dryer vents properly cleaned at least once per year, sometimes this is not enough. Dryer vents fires do happen for a variety of reasons. But in the case of a fire in the home, be sure to call a fire damage restoration company as soon as possible. You can be assured that your family and property are safe by calling fire damage repair services.

About Beth Markowski-Roop

Beth Markowski-Roop is an experienced and knowledgeable professional in the disaster restoration industry for over 12 years since 2012. She has a proven track record in marketing, sales, public relations, and media. Beth is an engaging public speaker and has led workshops and seminars in various industries. She has worked with ServiceMaster Restore and ServiceMaster Clean as a Business Development Manager and Field Marketing Manager, providing support to franchise owners. Beth is currently the Marketing & Sales Director for ServiceMaster By Mason, focusing on disaster restoration and floorcare services. She also works closely with hoarding clients and conducts seminars on the hoarding disorder.