
"Each year, there are around 12,700 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings in the U.S. Failure to clean the lint screen is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in apartment buildings."
This is a sad and remarkable number. It is remarkable in the fact that this is many times a preventable issue. This is seen in what that same book mentions - that failure to lean the lint screen/trap is the leading cause.
I often see the makings of a dryer fire on home inspections here in Seattle. From me to you, here are a few simple steps to help prevent a dryer fire in your home:
- Clean your lint trap after EVERY use
- Clean the inside of the dryer barrel as well
- Clean the dryer vent hose and vent head
- Keep the area around the dryer free of clutter and debris