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Potential Dryer Fires

By
Home Inspector with CROOKERHANCOX HOME INSPECTIONS INC. 04061414

Potential Dryer Fires

Recently I had the pleasure of working with an appliance repairman. We were looking at our clothes dryer which had stopped working. It was no longer drying the clothes.
Ben pulled out the lint screen and proceeded to run water onto it. The water did not run through as you would expect, but pooled on the screen. He asked if we were in the habit of using fabric softener sheets.
He explained that they tend to leave a residue on the lint screen preventing the proper venting of the heat and moisture during the normal drying cycle.

Although we had always been diligent about cleaning the lint from this screen after each use we were not aware of this concern with a film building up.

He then proceeded to clean this screen with soapy water and a small scrub brush. After this cleaning he then showed me how the water ran freely through the screen.
This should be done every 6 months.

Ben then described to me how this blockage of the screen had probably caused the heating element to overheat causing it's premature failure.

This situation could have also caused a dryer fire.

Because of this potential fire hazard I feel this should be passed onto all my contacts and I encourage you to pass it on to all your contacts and friends.

 

Sean Allen
International Financing Solutions - Fort Myers, FL
International Financing Solutions

Charles....great advise. I had heard this some time ago but had since forgotten about it. Thanks for the reminder. My grandmother had a dryer fire in her condo many years ago. She immediately called 911 but when asked where she lived, all she could remember was that she was on the third floor. Fortunately, the fire department was only two blocks from her condo and they were able to trace the call and respond.

Sean Allen

Sep 19, 2008 02:13 PM
Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

Thanks for the tip.  I'll have to do it for my wife.  It  probably saves electricity too. pwant 

Sep 19, 2008 02:13 PM
Anthony Stokes-Pereira
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Nanuet, NY
Realtor

Hi Charles;

Thank you for such great information. I really do need to pay attention to my dryer.

Anthony

Sep 19, 2008 02:26 PM
Charles (Chuck) Crooker
CROOKERHANCOX HOME INSPECTIONS INC. - Brantford, ON

If you had ever seen a lint fire or what was left after you would make sure it was always clean. In our area we see a lot of flex pipe used for the dryer, we explain to our clients about the dangers of it and if it is the white plastic vent pipe we just shine our flash light behind it to show the lint, we suggest that they change it once they move in for hard pipe and tape the joints no screws as they too will collect the lint. 

 

Sep 19, 2008 04:18 PM
Anonymous
Jim Buie (Dryer Vent Wizard)

Charles, Good advice but also consider having your vent cleaned from the back of your dryer to the exit point.  If your dryer does not dry your clothes within the first cycle, you are probably due for a cleaning--this will not only make your clothes dry faster but it will make your home safer and it will save you energy!      

Sep 20, 2008 11:36 AM
#5
j r
International, IT

Wooow great blog Chuck thanks for sharing

Sep 20, 2008 04:16 PM
Gary Bercarich
All Phase Home Inspection, Inc. - Smithtown, NY

Thanks for the tip Charles, never thought to do anything to the screen but take the lint off of it.

Sep 22, 2008 01:17 PM
Erol Kartal
Schaumburg, IL

Excellent reminder to a very common problem.

Dec 04, 2008 10:13 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That's good infor Charles (Chuck)!  Yo no know...

I understand that dryers cause more fires in this country every year than electrical problems.  There are a variety of ways, and some unknown!

Dec 04, 2008 10:43 PM