Fire pros give tips on laundry safety

06 Sep Fire pros give tips on laundry safety

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.