Fire pros give tips on laundry safety
Don’t take your clothes dryer for granted. Yes, it does valuable work, week in and week out, but it will work better – and more safely – if you take these steps, as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association:
- Dryers should be properly grounded.
- Check the outdoor vent flap to make sure it is not covered by snow.
- Keep the area around your dryer clear of things that can burn — boxes, cleaning supplies, clothing, etc.
- Beware of clothes wet from contact with flammable substances such as gasoline, paint thinner, or similar solvents. Lay them outside to dry; then wash and dry as usual.
FACT: The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them!
- Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.
- Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.
- Dispose of the lint before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.
- Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper airflow and drying time.
- Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating.
- Once a year, or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.
- Keep your dryer in good working order. If you have a gas dryer, call a qualified professional to make sure that the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.
- Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly.
- Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and don’t overload your dryer.
- Turn the dryer off if you leave the house or are going to bed.
Dapper Ducts NYC cleans commercial and residential dryers in all five boroughs of New York City.
