Is Your Dryer Vent A Hazard?

Did you know that 82.6 percent of residential fires are caused by dryer vents? It has been reported that from 2008 to 2010, fire departments across the United States were called to about 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential areas. Dryer vent fires can start due to a buildup of lint. Lint is created from clothes fibers and debris that comes off of clothes while they are in the dryer. Most of this lint is caught by the dryer filter but some of it still can go through the venting system. Lint is a highly combustible material that can accumulate in the dryer and the dryer vent as well. Having your vents checked and cleaned on regular bases will decrease the chances of a fire. A clean dryer vent also cuts down on your drying time and allows your dryer to work at its highest performance level. Some other interesting facts you may not have known:

• 77% of fires are in one or two family dwellings.
• 17.4% fires are in multi-family dwellings.
• Clothes dryer fire incidence in residential buildings was higher in the fall and winter months, peaking in January at 11%.
• Failure to clean (34%) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
• Dust, fiber, and lint (28%) and clothing not on a person (27%) were, by far the leading items first ignited in clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
• 54% of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings were confined to the object of origin.

The dryer vent should be cleaned once a year on average. If you dry more than four loads a day you may need to have it checked and cleaned every six months. We want to help keep you safe! Give us a call, 317-462-4759, and ask about our dryer vent services.