News Reports

Dryers Can Be Dangerous Hazards If Improperly Maintained

Last Updated:
10-12-05 at 2:03PM

House dryers are to blame for more than 15,000 house fires every year. There are things you should know to minimize the chances of a fire in your home.

"It's a household appliance, you don't think of it as something that is deadly," home owner Kelly Peterson said.

Kelly had been drying a small load of clothes, when she smelled something burning.

"And I ran to the basement, the dryer was smoking, smoke was coming out the back of the dryer."

She grabbed her two daughters and ran outside. By the time the fire department got there, her house was destroyed.

"Everyone I talked to could not believe the devastation that was caused by a dryer," she said. "We lost everything, I mean we literally had the clothes on our backs and that was it."

Every year, dryer fires cause millions of dollars in property damage and injure hundreds of people. That can leave many homeowners wondering ... could my dryer be at risk?

John Drengenberg is an engineer with Underwriters Laboratories – an organization that sets safety standards for home appliances. He says many dryer fires are caused by something you'll find inside every machine: plain old lint.

"When the lint builds up in the lint trap, it prevents the proper airflow in the dryer from the way it's designed to do," he said.

And that can cause mechanicals inside to overheat, and catch fire.

"The lint trap should be cleaned either before or after every load," he suggested.

Drengenberg also says over time, your exhaust pipe can also get clogged, causing a dangerous buildup of heat. He says a professional should clean out the pipes at least once a year. Also, check your outside exhaust vent for blockages.

"Look at it to make sure there isn't a squirrel's nest in there or some debris, you want it free and clear," he said.
But Drengenberg says blocked vents aren't the only culprit. There are some things that shouldn't go in the dryer in the first place. Even common items you put in your dryer can cause fires: garage rags stained with motor oil or gasoline. And aprons, dish towels, or napkins stained with cooking oil. All can ignite – even if they've been washed.

"The detergent won't get it all of it out, and putting it in the dryer could cause something called spontaneous combustion," Drengenberg explained.

Another hazard--anything made of rubber or plastic: like baby diaper pants, bath mats, even foam-padded bras. All could catch fire in a dryer.

After her dryer disaster, Kelly Peterson says you can never be too careful.

"I will never, ever leave the house or go to bed with the dryer running," she said. "To think that families are at risk because they just don't know, is the scariest thought of all."

There are also other warnings you should look for. Experts say if your machine is not doing a good job drying clothes, it could be a clue that the exhaust pipes are getting clogged with lint. They suggest you should get them cleaned out as soon as possible.