SJRFD: Clothes Dryer Safety

Most dryer fires occur because lint builds and blocks proper air flow. This causes your dryer to put out excessive heat, which can ignite the combustible lint. Learning the proper way to clean and maintain your clothes dryers can help you prevent a dryer fire.

The St. John’s Regional Fire Department reminds the public that the potential of a clothes dryer fire occurring in the home can be significantly reduced by following these few simple safety tips:

• 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 metal venting material shall be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.
• Make sure the air exhaust unit 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 unit pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.
• Keep dryers in good working order.
• Make sure that 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.
• Dryers should be properly grounded.
• Make sure outside vent flap is not covered by snow.
• Clothes that have come in contact with flammable substances like gasoline and paint thinner, should be laid outside to dry, then can be washed and dried as usual.
• The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them.

For more information contact:
Acting Captain Gary Power
Fire Prevention Officer
St. John’s Regional Fire Department
(709) 576-3905
fireprevention@stjohns.ca