Dryer Vent Fires: Causes and Preventions

Do you know that thousands of houses come under fire each year caused by dryer vent fires according to the NFPA Report? The majority of us are aware of how critical it is too frequently clean the lint trap in our dryers, but few are aware of the serious dangers associated with neglecting the dryer vent's maintenance. We will explore the risks associated with dryer vent fires in this blog post, along with their root causes and the crucial precautions you may take to avoid them. By exposing this unseen domestic danger, let's assure the security of our homes and our loved ones.

Major Causes of Dryer Vent Fires

Lint Build-Up

Lint builds up in dryer vents because of neglect or occasional cleaning, which decreases the system's effectiveness and raises the risk of a fire.

Restricted Airflow

A poorly designed or damaged venting system can lead to reduced airflow. This can cause overheating, which, when combined with lint build-up, can easily trigger a fire.

Inadequate Installation

The risk of fire is most when dryer vents are placed incorrectly, using the wrong materials, or using long, complicated paths. These improper installations restrict airflow and allow for lint accumulation.

Warning Signs

Before a dryer vent fire occurs, there are several warning signs to be aware of:

Longer DryinTimes

If your dryer is taking longer than usual to dry clothes thoroughly, it may indicate restricted airflow caused by lint build-up.

Overheating

A hot exterior surface on your dryer or a burning smell during operation can signal excessive lint accumulation within the vent.

Excessive Lint

Excessive Lint is one of the major cause of fire in vent dryer. If you notice an increasing amount of lint escaping the lint trap or around your dryer, it is a clear indicator of a blocked vent.

Preventive Measures

Regular Cleaning

Clean the lint trap after every use, and schedule a professional cleaning of the entire vent system at least once.

Hire Professional

Always hire a specialist for dryer vent cleaning because a common person does not know how to properly clean a dryer vent.

Patriot Dryer Vent Cleaning Specialists are here to help. Our team of experts will effectively remove built-up lint and debris from your dryer vents, ensuring optimal performance and preventing potential fire hazards. Get peace of mind and improve the efficiency of your dryer today! Contact us for a thorough and reliable service.

Is solar panel cleaning worth it?

The short answer is yes. And here ae a few reasons.

Solar panels work by converting light into electricity. If there is dirt on the surface of the solar panel, it can reduce how much light is absorbed by that area, reducing efficiency. Cleaning solar panels reduce dust, debris, and other contaminants such as leaves and bugs, which could further reduce efficiency.

Maintaining your solar panels is essential, but you don't need to clean them as often as most people think. You may need to remove the occasional buildup of leaves, bird droppings, and other debris to maximize the amount of sunlight exposure your panels receive.

Dirty solar panels can negatively impact efficiencies by up to 35%! You should clean your panels every 3-6 months, and during that time dust, pollution, or bird poop may accumulate, causing shading on solar cells that interferes with energy production.

Who to contact? We have been pleased with the team at Texas Window & Solar. Excellent customer service at a fair price.

They can be reached at 210-326-0852 or at their web site https://www.texaswindowwashing.xyz/

Dryer Lint is a Bigger Fire Hazard Than You Think

The latest statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration cite that over 2,900 dryer vent fires occur annually, causing $35 million in damages and resulting in 100 injuries and five deaths per year. What to do? Simply keep your dryer vent lint-free. Accumulated lint in dryer vents is the leading cause of dryer-related fires: 34% of all dryer fires result from excess lint build up. Follow these guidelines and your likelihood of a dryer vent fire will be greatly reduced.

• Have your clothes dryer installed by a professional.

• Clean the lint filter before and after each load of laundry. Don’t forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can build up. In addition, clean the lint filter with a nylon brush at least every six months, or more often if it becomes clogged.

• Clean lint out of the vent pipe every three months.

• Have your dryer cleaned regularly by a professional, especially if it is taking longer than normal for clothes to dry.

• Inspect the venting system behind the dryer to ensure it is not damaged or restricted.

• Put a covering on outside wall dampers to keep out rain, snow and dirt.

• Make sure the outdoor vent covering opens when the dryer is on.

• Replace coiled-wire foil or plastic venting with rigid, non-ribbed metal duct.

• Check regularly to make sure nests of small animals and insects are not blocking the outside vent.

• Keep the area around the clothes dryer free of items that can burn.

• If you will be away from home for an extended time, unplug or disconnect the dryer.

• Don’t use a clothes dryer without a lint filter or with a lint filter that is loose, damaged or clogged.

• Don’t overload the dryer.

• Don’t use a wire screen or cloth to cover the wall damper. They can collect lint and clog the dryer vent.

• Don’t dry anything containing foam, rubber or plastic. An example of an item not to place in a dryer is a bathroom rug with a rubber backing.

• Don’t dry any item for which manufacturer’s instructions state “dry away from heat.”

• Don’t dry glass fiber materials (unless manufacturer’s instructions allow).

• Don’t dry items that have come into contact with anything flammable, like alcohol, cooking oils, or gasoline. Dry them outdoors or in a well-ventilated room, away from heat.

• Don’t leave a clothes dryer running if you leave home or when you go to bed.

Apartment Dryer Vent Cleaning

Apartment dryer vents need to be cleaned annually just as residential dryer vents need to reclaim the annually. In most cases, the apartment complex Maintenance team will only do a cursory cleaning of your dryer vent hose and not the actual dryer vent itself.  we offer affordable apartment dryer vent cleaning in the San Antonio area. It is important to keep the dryer vent clean so that the dryer can function efficiently. In addition, and obstructed or dirty dryer vent can certainly be a fire hazard. If you notice that your clothes are not drying in one cycle this is a clear indication that your dryer vent needs to be professionally cleaned. Contact us at 830-320-0773 or click on this link to schedule your appointment

Error Code D90

If you see a d90 or d95 error on your control panel, your dryer has detected a 90% or 95% blockage in the duct work, prompting immediate attention. Blockages and restrictions in your home exhaust system possibly caused by lint buildup and debris, can prevent your dryer from running efficiently at maximum performance.

To remove the D90 error code and get your dryer working again, you need to clean out the ventilation system. Once you give it a good clean, airflow will increase, and the error code will go away.

How Often Should You Clean Your Dryer Vents?

One of the biggest concerns I had never thought of before revolved around the laundry room. Specifically, the good ol’ dryer needs routine maintenance and lint removal to prevent house fires.

So you may also be wondering, how often to clean dryer vents? Dryer exhaust vents should be inspected and cleaned at least once a year depending on the size of the household, dryer usage, and pets in the household A telltale sign that the dryer vent needs cleaning is that clothes take longer and longer to dry.

Keep reading to learn more about the importance of cleaning your dryer vents and how often you should complete this task.

How Often Should You Clean a Lint Trap Vent & Dryer Vent?

According to home experts, the lint trap vent should be cleaned after every load. This is simple to do and can make such a difference in dryer performance, as well as keeping your house safe from a fire. Many homeowners have the misconception that the dryer lint trap is the maintenance area that needs to be routinely checked with a dryer.

Wrong! The dryer vent also needs to be inspected and cleaned, AT LEAST once per year. This number can change depending on a few factors including the following:

Family Size

Home experts have found that family size affects how often to clean dryer vents. Large family size means more loads of clothes need to be washed each day. The more often you use the dryer each day, the higher the amount of lint it accumulates. The dryer vent, therefore, needs to be cleaned several times a year with larger families.

Presence of Pets

We love our furry friends, but their presence usually means clothes full of fur and pet dander. If you keep pets in your house, then it’s more likely the dryer vents will get clogged more quickly than in pet-free homes. It is, therefore, essential to clean the dryer frequently to remove pet hair and fur from the vent.

How Often You Purchase New Clothes

Do you like to buy new clothes often? Purchasing new clothes often may mean you need to clean your dryer vents more throughout the year. Home research has shown that new clothes produce more lint than old clothes. So, if you like buying new clothes frequently, then you need to clean your dryer vents several times a year.

Type of Laundry

Bulky items like blankets and towels produce more lint that causes the dryer vent to clog quickly. Therefore, if your laundry is mainly comprised of bulky clothing, then it is advised that you clean your dryer vent several times a year.

What Are the Benefits Of Regular Dryer Vent Cleaning?

There are several benefits of routine dryer vent cleaning. As a homeowner, you must schedule regular dryer vent cleanings to protect your home from fires and save money. Dryer vent cleaning has the following benefits:

Dryer Vent Cleaning Saves Energy

Cleaning your dryer vent regularly will help improve its efficiency, thus lowering the amount of power that it consumes. Did you know that homeowners who clean their dryer vent periodically can save up to 30% on their energy bills?

Dryer Vent Cleaning Decreases Maintenance Costs

Like a car that needs regular oil changes, a dryer will perform better when the vents are cleaned regularly. Cleaned dryer vents will allow the dryer to not overheat or get clogged. As a result, it is less likely to break down or experience a technical hitch – which means saving money for you!

Dryer Vent Cleaning Reduces a House Fire Risk

A person’s home is usually their most valuable asset. Therefore, cleaning the dryer vents to prevent a house fire is so important for one’s assets and the safety of the family. Lint is a highly flammable material. If left to accumulate on the vent, it can cause a fire that can cause havoc. Regular cleaning help to prevent lint buildup, thus preventing the risk of fire.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Reduces Wear & Tear On Dryer

If the dryer vent is not cleaned regularly, then the dryer is forced to work twice as hard to dry your clothes. This excessive strain can wear down crucial parts of the dryer. Regular cleaning helps to improve dryer efficiency, thus reducing wear and tear

Do I need to have my ducts cleaned?

Are you wondering if you need to schedule a duct cleaning service? Here are a few indications that you do:

• People and pets are getting sick more often

• Dust is accumulating faster on your furniture

• You suspect you have a pest problem

• It’s been more than a year since your last duct cleaning

Regular deep cleaning of your home’s air ducts should be part of your general HVAC maintenance. Not only does the accumulation of dirt circulate in your home – including spreading mold spores, but it also builds up in the furnace, heat pump, and air conditioner. This, in turn, causes more friction on the appliance’s moving parts which can make them wear out faster. So, not only will regular air duct cleaning keep your home cleaner and smelling nicer, but it will also extend the life of your heating and cooling system!

Is dryer vent cleaning really necessary?

Cleaning these vents isn't just important for your clothes and time (and sanity). Over months and years, lint can accumulate in these ducts and mix with hot air and ignite, creating a fire hazard. Every year, dryer duct fires cause $35 million in damages, hundreds of injuries and even deaths.

Save Bird Families

Spring is around the corner. With Spring comes birds looking for a place to nest. If your dryer vent is on the side of your home and you do not have a vent cover installed, birds WILL build a nest in your vent. They see a condominium, not a dryer vent. This causes server issues. First, a blocked dryer vent is a HUGE fire hazard. A birds nest will, without a doubt smell and back up in to your home and is a health hazard. Have a vent cover installed so that the birds build nests in places that wont be a hazard to your family or theirs. We will help.

830-320-0773

EXCESSIVE LINT, EXTREME HEAT. A DRYER FIRE WAITING TO HAPPEN

Dryer vents are the pipes that are connected to dryers that help remove excess water content from the washed clothes. It works by centrifugal technique; the water loaded clothes are slammed and rotated within the dryer, which collects the heavy water particles. Then, those particles disposed off through the dryer vent to outer environment. This exposure to the outer environment allows pollutants and molds to enter the ducts, that will become their host and breeding part where molds grow and start to choke the ducts.

A choked dryer duct faces problems in removing water content since the diameter is reduced and the water flow stops at points. This causes decreases in output, machine starts to heat up, causing technical faults and efficiency issues of the dryer.

Flammable materials should be kept far away from heat sources. However, in household dryers, lint can collect dangerously close to the heating element. To protect your household from a common fire hazard, call on Patriot Dryer Vent Cleaning for routine dryer vent cleaning services.

Danger! Dryer Fires are Real

Dryer Fire Facts.

An estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. ■ Clothes dryer fire incidence in residential buildings was higher in the fall and winter months, peaking in January at 11 percent. ■ Failure to clean (34 percent) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. ■ Dust, fiber, and lint (28 percent) and clothing not on a person (27 percent) were, by far, the leading items first ignited in clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. ■ Fifty-four percent of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings were confined to the object of origin.

How to Prevent Clothes Dryer Fires

Very few people realize the danger of clothes dryer fires. However, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are an estimated annual 15,500 fires, 10 deaths and 10 injuries due to clothes dryer fires. Several hundred people a year are also subjected to carbon monoxide poisoning from improper dryer vent setups. The financial costs come to nearly $100,000,000 per year. In some cases faulty appliances are to blame, but many fires can be prevented with proper dryer venting.

How Clothes Dryer Fires Occurs

Lint accumulation and reduced airflow feed on each other to provide conditions ripe for a fire. Lint is a highly combustible material, which, interestingly enough, is one of the ingredients in a recipe for home-made fire starters. A number of dryer vent problems contribute to this.

A growing problem

Traditionally, most clothes dryers were in the basement. However, nowadays many newer homes tend to have dryers located away from an outside wall in bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and hall closets. These new locations mean dryers tend to be vented longer distances and vents are generally installed with sharp turns and bends to accommodate the structure of the home. As a result, dryer vents are harder to reach, and also create more places for lint to gather. The ideal solution is to have short, straight, dryer duct venting. However, a dryer vent booster, while not the ideal approach, can improve your dryer venting in cases where your venting is longer and/or has more bends than it should. In addition to creating a fire hazard, if the venting is too long and/or has two many bends, it will cause your dryer to take much longer than necessary to dry loads.

Inside the Dryer

Lint is the biggest culprit here. As you know from cleaning out your lint filter, dryers produce very large quantities of lint. Most people assume their lint traps catch all the lint, and that all they need to do is clean them out after each load. However, a significant amount of this lint is not caught by the lint trap and builds up inside the dryer-even on the heating element! If you are skeptical, try this experiment: pull out the lint trap and look underneath it- you may find large mounds of lint staring at you. Lint can build up on the heating element and in other places inside the dryer, causing it to overheat and possibly catch fire. As a rule, a fire starts from a spark in the machine. However, improper clothes dryer venting practices outside the dryer can play a key role in this process.

Outside the Dryer

There are many improper dryer vent practices which restrict airflow and lead to lint buildup, the two main preventable causes of clothes dryer fires.  Some of the most common and important dryer vent mistakes are:

1. Dryer vents are too long and/or have too many bends, but don’t use a dryer duct booster, resulting in lint buildup. When it comes to dryer vents, shorter and straighter is better.

2. Use of flammable, flimsy plastic or foil duct extenders. Only metal vents should be used, which is what most manufacturers specify. Metal vents also resist crushing better than plastic and foil, which allows the air and lint to be carried out of the system. Reduced airflow from build-up or crushing can cause overheating and wear out the clothes and appliance faster. In fact, many state and local municipalities have placed requirements on new and remodeling projects to include all metal dryer venting.

3. Inadequate clearance space between dryer and wall. Many people create problems by putting their dryer right against the wall, crushing the venting material in the process. The cumulative effect of reduced airflow and the resulting lint build-up prevent the dryer from drying at the normal rate. This causes the high temperature limit safety switch to cycle on and off to control the heater. Most high temperature limit safety switches were not designed to continuously cycle on and off, so they fail over a period of time.

4. Failure to clean the dryer duct.

Your Dryer May be Failing If:

The clothes are taking an inordinately long period of time to dry, come out hotter than usual or if the vent hood flapper doesn’t open. Maintenance is needed in these cases.

Only You Can Prevent Clothes Dryer Fires

Proper Installation & Choice of Building Materials

1. Make sure the dryer duct is made of solid metallic material. Both vinyl and foil are combustible and spiral-wound surfaces tend to catch lint more readily.

2. The dryer duct should vent to the exterior and in no case should it vent to the attic or crawlspace. Avoid the use of inside heat recovery diverter valves or termination boxes, which do not comply with current standards.

3. Avoid kinking or crushing the dryer duct to make up for installation in tight quarters -this further restricts airflow. If you really want to save the extra space, the Dryerbox is a new invention that allows the dryer to be safely installed against the wall.

4. Minimize the length of the exhaust duct (maximum recommended lengths depend on a number of factors, such as number of bends, and vary by model-check with your manufacturer for their specifications). If this is not possible, you can install a dryer duct booster.

5. If at all possible, use 4-inch diameter vent pipe and exterior exhaust hoods that have openings of sixteen square inches or more, which offer the least resistance to air flow.

6. Don’t use screws to put your vent pipe together – the screw shafts inside the piping collect lint and cause additional friction.

Keep the Dryer Duct in Good Condition

Disconnect, clean and inspect the dryer duct run on a regular basis, or hire a professional company to clean the dryer duct. This will reduce the fire hazard, increase the dryer’s efficiency and increase its lifespan. In addition, you are less likely to experience water damage.

Keep Your Dryer as Lint-Free as Possible

By keeping your dryer clean, not only will you significantly reduce the fire hazard, you will also save money as your dryer will run more efficiently and last longer. To keep your dryer clean:

1. Use a lint brush or vacuum attachment to remove accumulated lint from under the lint trap and other accessible places on a periodic basis.

2. Every 1-3 years, depending upon usage, have the dryer taken apart and thoroughly cleaned out by a qualified service technician.

3. Clean the lint trap after each load.

Is It Time To Have Your Chimney and Fireplace Cleaned?

It’s easy to forget about your chimney and fireplace until you’re ready to light a fire in your fireplace or crank up the heat, but did you know that, according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) Code 211, “all chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year?” The reason being that, even if you had your chimney inspected last year, all the burning since then, paired with the freezing, thawing, settling, and water damage that can occur as a result of the rain, snow, and weather changes in the last year can rapidly turn a safe chimney flue into an unsafe one.

Dryer Duct Termination Texas Code

According to the International Residential Code, duct termination should be outside the home and at least three feet away from doors and windows. For the best safety results and use of your dryer, make sure that you follow all of the manufacturer’s installation guides. Furthermore, duct terminations need to be equipped with a backdraft damper, and you should not install any type of screen.

Contact us for a free inspection.

Fireplace Danger

Creosote is a category of carbonaceous chemicals formed by the distillation of various tars and pyrolysis of plant-derived material, such as wood or fossil fuel. They are typically used as preservatives or antiseptics.[2]

Some creosote types were used historically as a treatment for components of seagoing and outdoor wood structures to prevent rot (e.g., bridgework and railroad ties, see image). Samples may be found commonly inside chimney flues, where the coal or wood burns under variable conditions, producing soot and tarry smoke. Creosotes are the principal chemicals responsible for the stability, scent, and flavor characteristic of smoked meat; the name is derived from Greek κρέας (kreas) 'meat', and σωτήρ (sōtēr) 'preserver'.[3]

The two main kinds recognized in industry are coal-tar creosote and wood-tar creosote. The coal-tar variety, having stronger and more toxic properties, has chiefly been used as a preservative for wood; coal-tar creosote was also formerly used as an escharotic, to burn malignant skin tissue, and in dentistry, to prevent necrosis, before its carcinogenic properties became known.[4][5] The wood-tar variety has been used for meat preservation, ship treatment, and such medical purposes as an anaesthetic, antiseptic, astringent, expectorant, and laxative, though these have mostly been replaced by modern formulations.[citation needed]

Varieties of creosote have also been made from both oil shale and petroleum, and are known as oil-tar creosote when derived from oil tar, and as water-gas-tar creosote when derived from the tar of water gas.[citation needed] Creosote also has been made from pre-coal formations such as lignite, yielding lignite-tar creosote, and peat, yielding peat-tar creosote.[citation needed]

Fireplace Maintenance

With our professional chimney sweep cleaning service, your house will stay safe. Does your house smell like smoke, even when you don’t have a fire lit? Do you have a foul smell
coming from your fireplace? If you answered yes to either of these questions, it could mean that your chimney is lined with creosote, which is the soot byproduct from burning wood.

Every fireplace generates creosote, simply as a nature of being used, but over time the build-up of this soot can create some real problems. For example, decreased airflow from a buildup of soot will greatly impact the performance of your chimney and fireplace and will also increase the danger of fire and carbon monoxide.

Dryer Fire

For many households and other establishments, the clothes dryer is an indispensable convenience and necessity. However, damaging fires can occur if clothes dryers are not properly installed and maintained. Eighty-four percent of clothes dryer fires that occurred in buildings took place in residential buildings.1, 2 Because the residential building portion of these fires predominates, the primary focus of this analysis addresses the characteristics of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). The focus is on fires reported from 2008 to 2010, the most recent data available at the time of this analysis. From 2008 to 2010, fire departments responded to an estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings each year across the Nation.3 These fires resulted in an annual average loss of 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.

The Hows and Whys of a Clothes Dryer Fire

A clothes dryer works by forcing hot air through a turning drum. Wet clothes placed in the drum are then dried by moving hot air. It is possible for a full load of wet clothes to contain as much as one and a half gallons of water. Lint, consisting mostly of small fibers from the clothes and debris in or on the clothes, is created from the clothes as the clothes tumble in the drum. While much of the lint is trapped by the dryer’s filter, lint is also carried through the vent system along with moist air.4 Lint is a highly combustible material that can accumulate both in the dryer and in the dryer vent. Accumulated lint leads to reduced airflow and can pose a potential fire hazard.5 In addition to the accumulation of lint, blockage in dryer exhaust vents also can occur from the nests of small birds or other animals or from damages to the venting system itself. A compromised vent will not exhaust properly to the outside. As a result, overheating may occur and a fire may ensue.

Can a bird nest in a dryer vent cause a fire?

During the spring, birds like to use dryer vents as a cozy place to build a nest. When the vent is blocked with a nest -- or anything else -- hot air builds up and can catch deposits of lint in the vent, potentially setting the dryer on fire. Contact us for help.

Rookies Guide to Drying Clothes

Dry Right

Dryer settings are simpler than washer settings. Here’s a quick tour.

Automatic dry is an energy-efficient option (compared with timed drying)—it automatically shuts off when sensors detect all clothes are dry.

Regular/heavy dry is the fastest and hottest setting, ideal for heavier fabrics and bath towels.

Delicate dry relies on lower heat, so drying time is longer for those delicate items.

Permanent Press dry works well for business-casual types (just like the wash cycle) and uses medium heat.

“Fluff air” doesn’t really dry at all. Sans heat, it draws in room temperature air to freshen up stiff, delicate, or shrinkable fabrics like linen pants, down coats, drapes, and pillows. It’s also useful for technical fabrics like wicking sportswear or soft-shell jackets that would be damaged by a heat setting.

I wouldn’t want you to ruin your coolest jacket because of a foolish laundry mistake. Take it from me—the guy who once washed his leather jacket.

For more information on dryer vent cleaning contact us.