ALL ABOUT DRYER VENTS!
FEMA dryer vent fire facts:
An estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.
Clothes dryer fire incidence in residential buildings was higher in the fall and winter months, peaking in January at 11 percent.
Failure to clean was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
Dust, fiber, lint and clothing were, by far, the leading items first ignited in clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
Fifty-four percent of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings were confined to the object of origin.
More reasons to clean your dryer vent:
Reduce excess household dust and humidity
Preserve clothing, as the life of many fabrics can be damaged by high temperatures
Allow your dryer to operate more efficiently by using less energy, saving you money
Reduce the cost of your electric bill
Decrease the amount of time your clothes need to completely dry
Extend the life of your dryer
Decrease the musty smell that can cling to your clothing as a result of dirty dryer vents
Schedule your dryer vent cleaning if you notice any of these symptoms:
Clothes are still damp after a drying cycle
There is lint around the door of your dryer instead of the lint trap
You see lint coming out the outside vent opening
Excessive heat build up in the laundry room
There’s a musty smell coming from your dryer
Condensation forms on walls and ceilings around your dryer
A burning smell is coming from your dryer
Dryer exterior is hot to the touch
