December 13, 2005 - The Bureau of Construction Codes & Fire Safety (BCCFS) is reminding homeowners the importance of cleaning out their dryer’s vent. Most dryer vent fires start with a buildup of lint, which blocks the flow of air and ignites when it becomes too hot. In the most recent year that data is available, 2004, there were 425 dryer fires resulting in 6 injuries and 1 death in Michigan.

“Most often, poor venting causes the problem. Homeowners try to make the most of the tight space typical in a laundry room by pushing the dryer as close to the wall as possible, this leaves little room for the pipe to come out and turn, which creates a trap for lint to collect,” said Andy Neumann, State Fire Marshal. “Dryer lint has a high flash point, meaning it ignites easily even at low temperatures.”

Also, dryer venting tends to sag, if it is not guided through the rafters with rigid ducting. The curves will stop the lint from blowing out. Lint becomes trapped in the ribs of ducting, creating pockets of potentially flammable debris. This creates an even more extreme problem when the heavy winds are blowing. Debris, such as tree bark can become lodged inside, mixing with the lint, and creating an easily ignitable pile of debris.

“There are no safety devices in household dryers that will detect a lint fire in a dryer vent and shut the appliance off,” said Virgil Monroe, Chief, BCCFS, Electrical Division. “Additionally both gas and electric dryers have a fan, which could cause a fire to spread once ignition occurs.”

The easiest solution: clean dryer vents regularly or have them professionally cleaned. Make sure that the dryer is operating properly. Make sure that the filter has been cleaned each time a new load of clothes is dried; also, check the outside exhaust to see that air is escaping normally. If there are any signs that the dryer is hotter than normal, the temperature control thermostat might need servicing.

“One of the first signs that there may a problem is the dryer will be hot, however the clothes will not be getting dry,” said Tennison Barry, Chief, BCCFS Mechanical Division.

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