Laundry Room Fire Prevention Tips

2/24/2020 (Permalink)

This local Bay Area home was affected by a large loss fire that began in their laundry room!

While cooking remains the leading cause of house fires, laundry room fires account for an average of 15,000 fires each year in the United States according to the National Fire Protection Association. That’s the unfortunate event that happened at this local Tampa Bay Area home. With it being our largest residential fire to date, our team dived in head first and utilized all of our tools and resources to get these clients home back to them and make it “Like it never even happened.”

Between structural damage for this 5,000 square foot home and the affected contents inside during the fire, we have been busy! Calling in engineers, electricians, plumbers, and even moving companies to help!

We know what you're thinking.... "How can I prevent this from happening SERVPRO of Hernando County?" Well, you're in luck because we've listed some tips to help ensure you don't have the same devastation our client has had. 

1. Clean the lint filter after every use. Lint is highly flammable, so allowing it to build up in your dryer’s filter is dangerous. Before you start a load of laundry, always make it a habit to pull out the lint filter and clean it. You also need to check around the vent pipes and ducts to make sure that they stay clear of lint.

2. Replace your foil accordion vent pipe with a rigid metal pipe.Many dryers have a foil vent pipe that can collect lint that easily gets stuck in the folds of the vent, becoming a fire hazard. You can prevent lint build-up by replacing the vent pipe with a sturdy metal vent, which will reduce the amount of lint being left behind.

3. Clean inside, underneath, and behind the dryer.Lint and other debris can build up in the spaces surrounding your dryer. Heat or a spark from the dryer can ignite the flammable materials, causing a fire. You can reduce the risk of fire by dusting and sweeping around your dryer once a week to keep it lint free.

4. Avoid drying items that have been exposed to combustible materials.If you have items soiled with oil, grease, or gasoline, don’t put it in the dryer because the heat could cause the item to catch on fire. Instead, hang those items up to dry!

5. Check to make sure that there is space between the dryer and the wall.Your dryer needs clearance from the wall so that air can circulate around it to cool it down. If the back of the dryer is blocked, it can easily overheat. Additionally, your vent pipe needs space so that it doesn’t get bent or compressed to prevent lint build up!