| As clothing tumbles dry airborne water vapors | | | | for the rigid dryer vent pipe, the pipe is usually |
| get forced out of the dryer vent to the exterior | | | | aluminum and very easy to piece together |
| of the home. Most clothing dryers have a gas | | | | (screws are not allowed). |
| burner or are operated by electricity. Both types | | | | Lint build up is the major cause of dryer fires in |
| of dryers push warm air against the tumbling | | | | the United states. Lint is very flammable and |
| clothes. This tumbling and hot air circulation | | | | should not be left to build up inside the dryer vent |
| evaporates the water that is left in the load of | | | | discharge pipe. However most dryer fires are |
| laundry. | | | | caused by the dryer overheating caused by |
| The clothes dryer exhaust that ejects the moist | | | | excess heat that occurs with an obstructed |
| hot air can be an area of concern if it is not | | | | venting pipe. As the vent pipe becomes more |
| properly secured, connected or maintained. The | | | | constricted heat builds up in the dryer motor |
| metal dryer discharge pipe should be firmly | | | | which can lead to mechanical failure and sparking. |
| connected to the housing that extends to the | | | | The lint that is obstructing the dryer vent pipe |
| exterior of the home. If it is not properly | | | | and the excess lint that can not leave the dryer |
| connected hot steam and moisture can cause | | | | can ignite. |
| damage inside the home in the form of mold and | | | | According to recent data dryer fires are more |
| wood rot damages. | | | | common then most people realize. There are |
| The dryer discharge should not be obstructed. A | | | | over 15000 dryer fires in the United states each |
| clogged or obstructed dryer discharger can be a | | | | year according to the National Fire Protection |
| fire hazard. Often the flexible dryer pipe is kinked | | | | Agency. |
| or bent. The pipe must remain in good condition | | | | Some quick tips to avoid dryer fires: |
| to properly exhaust the clothes dryer. Rigid vent | | | | - Use ridged dryer ventilation pipe |
| piping is much more preferable then flexible dryer | | | | - Avoid flexible dryer venting pipes |
| vent. Flexible dryer venting pipes have ridges | | | | - Limit the length of the dryer discharge pipe to |
| which cause friction inside the pipe. Friction can | | | | under twenty feet. |
| cause lint to build up which is a fire hazard. Opt | | | | |