Believe it or not, home dryers are a leading cause of fires. The National Fire Protection Association says that about 3,000 dryers catch fire every year, causing an estimated $238 million in property damage annually.

Fortunately, dryer fires can be easy to prevent with a few steps – and now is the perfect time to check on your dryer.

Clean out the lint trap

This step is so simple that it’s easy to miss. One quick thing you can do is always clean out the lint trap before running a load of laundry in your dyer.

Lint is very combustible, and so it can easily catch fire when your dyer heats up. Definitely don’t skip this step when doing the laundry.

Clean out dryer vents or ducts

Dryer vents or ducts are different than the lint trap. This is the tubing or compartment that connects your dryer to the outside. It needs to be cleaned out at minimum once a year, and more often if you notice signs it might be clogged. These signs could include:

• Clothes are taking a long time to dry

• It smells musty when the dryer is running

• The room heats up when the dryer is running, or the dryer is very hot to the touch

• Clothes are unusually hot to the touch when they are done drying

• There’s an excessive amount of lint in the trap after running a load

Luckily, the process to clean out a dryer vent is fairly easy:

• Unplug your dryer (or turn off the gas if it runs on gas)

• Use a screwdriver to disconnect the vent from the dryer

• Use your hand or a brush to clean out the lint

• Reattach the vent and re-hook up your dryer

• Go outside your house and check the vent, pulling out any lint

• Run your dryer for 10-15 minutes to push out any remaining lint

• Reattach the cover to the outside vent

After doing the above, you can rest assured that your dryer vent is free of lint or other debris. If you still notice issues – or want extra reassurance – call in a professional to clean out the ducts.

Check the appliance and outlet

Another important step is to make sure that your dryer plug is in the proper outlet, and that there’s no damage to the cord, outlet or plug. When in doubt, refer to your dryer manual to make sure that everything is correct.

If your dryer runs on gas, you’ll want a professional to inspect the line to make sure there are no leaks or other issues – especially if it’s a new-to-you dryer.

Additionally, keep the area around your dryer free of things that can burn, like boxes or cleaning supplies. Make sure the outdoor vent flap is always clear of debris or snow. And, if you have any laundry or rags that have come into contact with flammable substance, do not run them through the dryer. Let them air dry or throw them away.

Fire safety is so important when it comes to protecting your family and home. Don’t forget to consider fire safety the next time you do your laundry.

Want more fire safety advice? Be sure to check out our other blogs on CertaSitePro.com.