How Does a Dryer Catch on Fire?
According to Single Family Home Remodeling, the clothes dryer is one of the three top electricity users in your house. This electricity is used to create ample amounts of heat to dry laundry. If not cleaned or maintained properly, dryers have the potential to ignite, causing damage, injury and even death. Does this Spark an idea?
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Cause
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The buildup and ignition of lint causes dryers to catch on fire. If lint is caught in an inopportune area of the dryer, such as the vent, it may heat up and catch fire over time.
Process
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Lint is a result of the natural wear and tear of clothes over time. As clothes are dried, lint is expelled into the lint catcher and pipes. If not removed from the lint catcher and pipes, it tends to collect and create deposits. These deposits obstruct air flow through the dryer and increase the buildup of interior heat. Once dry, lint becomes flammable and may catch fire if there is enough of it to serve as adequate fuel.
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Considerations
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In dryers whose pipes connect directly to an outside wall, the buildup of lint is less of an issue. Lint can be expelled from the dryer quickly and into a safe area. However, many dryers have several feet of pipe through which lint must travel before it is expelled. These dryers pose a greater fire hazard. A worse issue is the lack of maintenance given to dryers. People who use dryers and never empty the lint catcher, clean dryer vents or inspect air flow obstructions are at a greater risk.
Danger
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According to "Dateline NBC," 14,500 dryers catch fire every year, killing 10 people. Such incidents occur when a dryer catches fire and is not promptly extinguished. This may occur if the dryer’s owner is occupied or absent and does not notice the imminent danger. After lint has ignited, fire may spread to dry clothes and then beyond the confines of the dryer. If left unchecked, fire may continue to spread and cause irreparable damage or injury.
Warning
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If a dryer exhibits poor performance, it may be from air flow obstruction caused by a lint deposit. These dryers should be cleaned immediately. If poor performance continues after the dryer has been cleaned, professional maintenance may be required to remove blockage in hard-to-reach areas.
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References
Resources
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