Ways to Prevent Lint Fires

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

Fires occurring from dryers are a very preventable accident and usually occur because the dryer has not been cleaned thoroughly nor properly. Although these are very preventable they happen in the thousands each year and injure many people and animals. 

More so, due to most placements of washers and dryers they tend to be very costly. Avoiding lint fires means to avoid fire damage altogether in your East Honolulu Home.

The easiest way to avoid a dryer/flint fire is to maintain a clean appliance. 

Here are some ways to do so:

1. Cleaning the Lint Trap

Every time you use the dryer you should be taking out the lint that is trapped in the lint trap. Although it is a good habit to practice, occasionally there will still be bits and pieces of lint residue. To compensate for these pieces of lint make sure to thoroughly clean the lint trap every two weeks. 

This can be done so by gently scrubbing at the metal mesh with dish soap, as well as a thorough rinse. After that it is recommended to dry it before you put it in your appliance again lest you cause a fire.

2. Vacuuming the Insides of the Dryer Appliance

Since it is a healthy habit to continuously clean your dryer, it is even more important to clean at the end of the summer and throughout the winter seasons. Although we don’t have much of a winter season due to the slight temperature change it is still an important process. 

In order to vacuum the inside of your dryer one should start by unplugging the appliance and removing the panel on the top of the dryer itself. 

References to removing the panel come from your personal annual this should be a very simple step. As you vacuum make sure to vacuum all dust and other debris especially if there’s any metal remnants. Avoid contact with any wires.

3. Keeping your Exhaust Hose Taunt

Although each person does their laundry differently, the vent and hose itself of the dryer should be cleaned out within 2 to 4 times a year. 

This is also a very simple and easy chore that can be done to make sure the dryer never catches on fire. Simply unplug your dryer moving away from the wall, then with your flexible dryer hose clean out all the lint and other debris you see inside. It is a good practice to vacuum and brush out the vent and hose. 

Any damages within those pieces should be replaced altogether. When done make sure to extend the hose as much as possible to prevent kinking that keeps debris inside the hose and vent. 

Keeping your dryer clean ensures that you can avoid calling us and your local fire department. These tips can also save time and money. 

 Here are some additional benefits that occur when you continuously have a clean functional dryer:

• It conserve energy, needing less time for your clothes to clean 
• Saves money  on your electrical bills due to the less energy needed 
• Your clothes dry quicker and more efficiently 
• The Life Expectancy increases when you maintain your appliance

And if disaster strikes SERVPRO of East Honolulu us here to help, you can call us at (808) 395-9545