Hidden Hazard
The old adage "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" accurately describes the hidden danger inside of most homes in the form of your laundry dryer ventilation system. The following current statistics may bring this concern to your attention as a homeowner.
2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.
Failure to clean the dryer (34 percent) is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.
More home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months, peaking in January.
So now that you are sitting up straight in your chair here are some tips on regular maintenance and proper installation guidelines on these seemingly innocuous devices hidden from view inside of your home.
Even if you regularly clean the provided lint trap at the clothes dryer itself you cannot totally prevent the accumulation of lint inside of your vent pipes and should be fully cleaned on a regular basis, depending on the usage and types of clothing being dried.
This can be difficult for the average homeowner since it typically involves the use of specialized brushes, partial disassembly, and the use of high volume vacuum equipment and is best left to specialized contractors such as chimney sweeps.
Contributing to these conditions are improperly vented systems due the use of flexible vent pipe, extended lengths, and running un-insulated pipes through unconditioned spaces such as attics or crawlspaces which will allow moisture condensation during cold weather which can trap lint.
In a perfect world, (and we all strive for this, right?) the best installations have single walled metal pipe assembled with the male fitting in the correct position, the joints not secured with screws but connected with metal duct tape, the pipe insulated to prevent the before mentioned moisture issue, and the length kept at a maximum of a thirty foot run. (Deduct 5' for each 90 degree elbow, 2 1/2' for 45 Degree)
Not sure how your own system measures up to these minimum requirements? Perhaps it is time for a professional evaluation to make sure that this potential safety issue is addressed, particularly since most installations that are inspected fall short of these common sense standards.
