Fires from clothes dryers account for hundreds of serious injuries and cause millions in property damage each year. We have already had quite a few home fires in the Chattanooga area this season. With this in mind, here are some clothes dryer dos and don’t’s to follow in order to help keep both you and your family safe.

·       Do clean the lint filter before and after each load of laundry.

·       Do regularly clean the area behind the dryer where lint can get trapped as well.

·       Do hire a qualified service technician to clean the interior of the dryer and venting system on a periodic basis.

·       Do replace plastic or vinyl exhaust hoses with metal venting.

·       Do read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow all of the safety instructions.

·       Don’t dry clothing or fabrics that contain flammable solutions such as alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers and dry-cleaning solvents. These substances give off vapors that can ignite and explode.

Don’t overload your dryer. Overloading not only causes drying to be delayed, it may also cause the dryer to break down

Don’t Forget About Dryer Maintenance

Lack of maintenance is the number one reason for dryer fires, according to Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a respected product testing organization. When consumers do not clean the lint traps or vent systems, they are running the risk of a fire.

In recent years, the UL has changed its standards for electric dryers to recommend that consumers not only clean lint traps and lint from around the lint screen and routing wiring. For more information on dryer maintenance, click here.

For more home safety guidance and homeowners insurance solutions, contact RISE Insurance at 423-541-1111.