Insurance Claims Negotiator

Insurance Claims Negotiator vents about dryer fires

Insurance Claims Negotiator vents about clothing dryer venting systems

When did you last clean your dryer's venting system? Is that task on your annual "to do" list? For most people, probably not. According to a USFA National Fire Data report that collected data from 2008 - 2010:

• An estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported annually
• These fires caused an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss
• Fall and winter months posed the greatest hazard for clothes dryer fires
• Dust, fiber and lint (28%) and clothing (27%) were the first items ignited in these clothes dryer fires
• Fifty-four percent of clothes dryer fires were confined to the object of origin
• A failure to clean vents (34%) was the largest factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires

Clothes Dryer Safety ABCs

• Dryer venting systems should terminate outside - not in a crawlspace, chimney space, or attic
• A dryer duct should not be smaller than the appliance's outlet
• Use metal transition ducts between the exhaust duct and clothes dryer
• Include a back draft damper on the dryer's exhaust vent termination hood to prevent exhaust from reentering the home
• Visit this site for additional dryer safety tips

Insurance Claims Negotiator recommends hiring a professional to inspect and clean your clothes dryer's vent annually.

Why?

• Lint and debris accumulate over time decreasing efficient venting. The dryer works harder and produces more heat. Consistently running at hotter temperatures decreases the appliance's lifespan. Higher temperatures may burn out the heating element or overwork the safety controls also leading to a potential fire hazard.
• Gas dryers present an additional hazard - clogged vents may allow potentially deadly carbon monoxide to vent into the home.
• Today's home designs often place clothes dryers in areas that require longer, more complicated venting. A 25-foot dryer duct isn't unusual in more recent construction, but longer ducts create more possibilities for additional clogs and even animals to climb in and build nests.

If you or someone you know has experienced a duct or dryer fire or any other property damage just give us a call, Jeff Wagner, Licensed Public Adjuster 267-265-5137.

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