How dryer vents can affect your business

1/18/2019 (Permalink)

Apartments pose an increased risk because of the high volume of units. If not maintained, there's a higher increased risk of fire!

One of the most common causes of fires in both apartments and homes, is also perhaps one of the most preventable.

Dryer vents connect from your clothes dryer, and can build up lint. If not cleaned out properly, the air cannot flow properly, and a fire can result. This type of fire happens most frequently in homes and apartments, posing dangers to adults and children.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year. These fires cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. The U.S. Fire Administration also reports that the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them (34 percent).

Apart from cleaning your dryer vent, the U.S. Fire Administration has suggestions to enhance safety when using your clothes dryer:

• Don’t use a clothes dryer without a lint filter or with a lint filter that is loose, damaged or clogged.
  
  
• Don’t overload the dryer.
  
  
• Don’t use a wire screen or cloth to cover the wall damper. They can collect lint and clog the dryer vent.
  
  
• Don’t dry anything containing foam, rubber or plastic. An example of an item not to place in a dryer is a bathroom rug with a rubber backing.
  
  
• Don’t dry any item for which manufacturers' instructions state “dry away from heat.”
  
  
• Don’t dry glass fiber materials (unless manufacturers' instructions allow).
  
  
• Don’t dry items that have come into contact with anything flammable like alcohol, cooking oils or gasoline. Dry them outdoors or in a well-ventilated room, away from heat.
  
  
• Don’t leave a clothes dryer running if you leave home or when you go to bed.

So whether you're a property manager of an apartment complex, or homeowner that's needing extra precautions... The bottom line here is to ensure a decreased risk of damage by keeping up with maintenance. At SERVPRO of Cedar Mill / Oak Hills, we also offer duct cleaning services to make sure people won't face this issue. If you do happen to experience this unfortunate event, always know that our goal is to make things seem "Like they never even happened."!