Laundry Room Safety…Avoiding A Dryer Fire

​Assessing fire risk in the home is an important part of keeping your household safe.  One area that can become a potential fire risk is the laundry area, more specifically the dryer. Let us look at some of the ways a dryer should be maintained to keep it working safely and efficiently.
 
A dryer works by forcing hot air into a drum of wet clothing as it is gently tumbling.  While this is happening, water vapor evaporates from the clothes. The water vapor then needs to leave the machine which it does through the attached dryer vent.  Lint is another byproduct of the drying process and this also needs to exit the machine so that it does not start to accumulate.
 
The dryer will be at risk of fire if the water vapor is unable to exit the dryer which would cause it to overheat. If lint, which is highly flammable, cannot exit the machine it will also start to build up, creating a very great potential for fire.
 
What are some simple ways you can avoid a dryer fire? Always check that the dryer vent is attached to the machine and that there are no kinks or bends in it that would cause it to become blocked, and every time the dryer is used make sure the lint trap is empty and clear. 

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