Often, the first sign of a partially clogged dryer vent will be an increase in the time it takes to dry a load of clothes. If it takes multiple drying cycles to dry a load, it may not be a malfunction - your dryer vent may just be clogged with lint. Don't ignore this warning sign! Thousands of home fires occur every year because of clothes dryers overheating. Many of these could be prevented by having the dryer vent ductwork cleaned.
According to the NFPA, clothes dryers and washing machines were involved in one out of every 23 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments in 2003-2006.
The NFPA estimates that clothes washers dryers caused over 17,000 home fires in 2006 with the vast majority being caused by dryers.* The main cause of the clothes dryer fires was the failure to properly clean the lint from the dryer and the vent ductwork.
The leading cause of home clothes dryer and washer fires is failure to clean them.
Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.
Do not use the dryer without a lint filter. Make sure you clean the lint filter 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 air flow 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 dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a 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 home or when you go to bed.
Download these NFPA safety tips on washers and dryers. (PDF, 105 KB)
*Reference: Fact sheet on home fires involving dryers and washing machines. (PDF, 59 KB)