Proper clothes dryer maintenance prevents household fires

Whether your clothes dryer is gas or electric, proper maintenance of your clothes dryer will not only help your appliance run more efficiently; saving you money, but it may prevent your home from going up in flames.

According to the .U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the United States averages 42 reported dryer fires every day. Comparable numbers for Canada could not be found (drop me a line if you find them!)

Here are some tips on how to prevent a clothes dryer fire in your home:

• Clean your lint trap or screen each and every load.
• Do not use plastic, vinyl or foil hose to vent your dryer, switch it out with venting made from a lightweight steel metal or aluminum.
• Proper venting should be no more than 8 feet long, with the fewest possible turns and angles.
• Contact a professional for regular clothes dryer vent cleaning. This advice is especially important for homes where venting is hidden behind drywall, or vented via the attic.
• Invest in a clothes dryer vent brush and remove clothes dryer paneling to clean out any lint caught between the rotating drum and the dryer cabinet. Do this every two to three years, or more frequently, depending upon usage.
• In the winter, make sure that outside clothes dryer vent flaps are not freezing shut or sticking.

Apartment dwellers: clothes dryers located in closet type spaces or totally enclosed rooms (as in some apartments) should have a minimum of 120 in² (775 cm²) opening into the closet/room for incoming air to ensure proper operation. Also, this type of set up often requires long metal ducts with several bends containing in-line fans and filters require additional attention.

If you notice that your dryer is taking longer than usually to dry your clothes, be sure to contact your landlord because there might be a problem with the dryer’s venting, filter and in-line fan operation.

For more fire safety tips, visit the website of the Office of the Fire Marshal of Ontario.

The DetroitNews.com has an excellent graphic that visually details the proper maintenance, care and venting of your clothes dryer in order to prevent fires.

For clothes dryer parts including venting parts, replacement lint filters and lint screens, visit APWagner.ca for replacement appliance parts in Canada.

For more winter safety tips, visit the website of Fire Prevention Canada.