Preventing Dryer Fires

The National Fire Protection Association reports approximately 14,100 fires per year that are caused by improperly venting a dryer or careless maintenance procedures.

Tips for dryer safety:

• Prevent fires with proper dryer duct installation. The dryer duct should vent directly outdoors - never to a room inside the house. Venting a gas dryer inside is especially dangerous because the air discharge can contain a combination of combustible gases.

• Avoid using plastic duct work because it could ignite or melt. Instead, install a hard metal duct from the dryer to the outside of the house.

• Keep the duct free of lint to help reduce the chance of fire spreading outside the dryer and into the vent. Never attempt to dismantle a dryer to clean the line between the dryer drum and the heat element. Contact a professional to do that type of work.

• Use dryer vents constructed of non-flexible metal that contain as few bends as possible.

• Clean the lint trap after every use.

• Call a professional if your dryer is not working properly.

• Install a smoke detector near your laundry room.

It's Time to Clean Your Chimney!

Soot build-up in home inspected in
Franklin, TN last month

 How often should I have my chimney cleaning?

This a tougher question than it sounds. The simple answer is: The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 says, "Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, and repairs shall be done if necessary. "This is the national safety standard and is the correct way to approach the problem. It takes into account the fact that even if you don't use your chimney much, animals may build nests in the flue or there may be other types of deterioration that could make the chimney unsafe to use.

Insect nests can be the source of a fire

The Chimney Safety Institute if America recommends that open masonry fireplaces should be cleaned at 1/4" of sooty buildup, and sooner if there is any glaze present in the system. Factory-built fireplaces should be cleaned when any appreciable buildup to cause a chimney fire capable of damaging the chimney or spreading to the home.