Dryer Vent Safety

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Before I get into dryer vent safety, I would like to pass along these statistics.

• Of the 81.5 million homes in the United States, 80% or more have clothes dryers.
• Of that 80%, it is estimated that 65% to 70% do not have safe vents.

• There are more than 15,500 fires a year associated with dryer usage.
• These fires contribute to 10 deaths, 310 injuries and $84.4 to $99 million in damages annually.

This amount depends upon the efficiency of the washing machine. Some have better spin cycles than others and extract more water.

As this water is removed in the drying process, it creates lint and although most gets caught in the lint filter, some makes it past the filter and blows all the way to the outside if it is vented properly.

lint gets caught in the dryer vent piping and over time blocks the air flow.

This makes the dryer take longer to dry a load of clothes as it has to overcome restrictions to get rid of the moisture.

Eventually this causes the dryer to overheat, wear out and maybe catch fire.

Lint is flammable!

In the photograph below, we set lint from our dryer on fire as a demonstration. It was done outside, of course.

People do not clean the lint filters as often as they should and the vent pipe is almost never cleaned.

"An annual cleaning is recommended by all the major appliance manufacturers."

In the manual that came with the appliance, there is a statement that unless the unit is cleaned and maintained, the warranty is void.

Your manual should have some basic instructions on how to keep the dryer clean and operating efficiently.

The dryer vent pipe is another problem altogether. Some dryers connect directly to the outside of the house. Others go through many feet of pipe to get to the outside wall.

If the dryer is on an outside wall, the exit should be smooth and quick.

As the dryer gets more to the center of the house, the piping gets longer and longer with more turns.

Some builders did not vent to the outside. They vented to the attic or the crawl space either by mistake or economy.

Most agree that this venting scenario causes mold buildup, interior air deterioration and a fire hazard. None of these are healthy for you OR your home.

THERE ARE SOME ATTACHMENTS YOU CAN INSTALL TO THE BACK OF THE DRYER TO VENT THE DRYER TO THE INSIDE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

The claim is it saves money by reclaiming the wasted heat and adding moisture during the winter months. PROBLEMS WITH THIS ARE:

• The hot moist air is vented behind the dryer where it is promptly sucked right back into the dryer.
• This will contribute to longer drying times. The longer the dryer runs, the more it cost to get your clothes dry.
• If the dryer is gas, the output is carbon monoxide and that could be disastrous to your family.

This material has many turns and is easily damaged causing air restrictions and poor air flow.

THE BEST METHOD IS:

• A smooth all metal aluminum (steel pipes rust) dryer vent piping.
• The pipes should be four inches in diameter with no more than two 90% turns and as short as possible.
• Join the pipes so that there are no rough edges to catch the lint.
• NEVER USE SCREWS to assemble the pipe as they disrupt air flow and catch the lint.
• Tape all joints with metal foil tape and support the dryer vent pipe at each joint in the crawl space. THERE SHOULD BE NO SAGGING PIPES!
• Keep the runs as straight as possible.
• Vent to the outside using a wall damper that has flaps.
• NEVER USE ONE THAT HAS A SCREEN. It may keep the pest out but it catches lint faster and blocks air flow.

DO NOT USE PLASTIC HOSE. This is because:

• The ribbed surface restricts air flow.
• Lint builds up in the hose causing overheating and possibly dryer fires.
• The hose is plastic and actually helps spread the fire.
• A plugged plastic vent pipe makes the clothes take a longer amount of time to dry.
• This results in higher utility bills.
• It may also cause the dryer to fail which costs you more money.

• Always replace plastic vent pipe with all metal aluminum pipe.
• Use preformed elbows, if at all possible, as they have less restriction than adjustable elbows.
• Make sure there is good air flow when the dryer is operating.
• Clean out the vent pipe annually. An electric leaf blower does a good job.
• Finally, do not let your clothes dryer run when you are out of the house or even when you are asleep.

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