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“Lady, did you know there is a bird in your dryer vent?”
“Sure, I was short one birdcage,” the homeowner weighed a sarcastic comeback before actually answering, “No.”

Living in a high rise, this Insurance Loft customer was relieved that a near disaster was averted with the replacement of the dryer vent system simultaneously with delivery of a new washer/dryer. Birds and small animals can make their way into a dryer vent that is not adequately covered, no matter how high up off the ground. Noted by FEMA: dead bird bodies are combustible and are the cause of many reported residential dryer fires.

In its official report (August 2012), FEMA warned homeowners that an estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year, causing an estimated five deaths, 100 injuries and a substantial $35M in property loss.

Failure to clean accumulated lint from the dryers is the leading factor for dryer fires (34% of all dryer fires.)

This indispensable convenience can be a hazard when not appropriately maintained PLUS it costs more to operate a dryer clogged with lint. Reduced airflow causes the dryer not to operate efficiently and possibly overheat.

A clothes dryer works by forcing hot air through a turning drum. Lint, small fibers from the clothing and debris in the pockets are supposed to be trapped in the lint filter. But it’s also carried through the vent system with moist air. Accumulated lint reduces airflow and is combustible. Birds are known to make their way into dryer vents that aren’t correctly screened on the home’s exterior.

Fires due to lint accumulation occur more in the fall and winter months, peaking in January, according to FEMA stats.

Proper installation of a dryer vent is essential. All manufacturers now state in their manuals not to use plastic, flexible dryer ducts between the vent and clothes dryer, FEMA cautions. Such plastic, flexible vents can twist allowing lint to build up and catch on fire if it comes in contact with a sufficient amount of heat. If a fire starts beneath the dryer, drafts from the dryer can pull the fire up into the duct, allowing a house fire to develop.

Flexible transition ducts listed by UL or other approved product safety testing agency should be used.

Dryer Vent Wizard in the Centennial, Colo. serving all of the metro-Denver area, recommends that homeowners follow manufacturers’ recommendations to clean their dryer vent every year. Additionally, the Dryer Vent Wizard advises homeowners that regular dryer vent maintenance prolongs the life of a dryer.

In a routine inspection of a homeowner-installed dryer vent in Denver, the Dryer Vent Wizard pro found that the exterior wall damper was not properly tied into the in-wall vent and it was installed upside down—both factors that could have caused a fire in the walls of the 100-year-old home.

Don’t lose your home to a dryer fire. Follow these FEMA recommendations to keep your dryer vent safe:
   • Have your clothes dryer installed by qualified personnel.
   • Clean the lint filter before and after each cycle. Check the back of the dryer for lint and clean the lint filter with a nylon brush at least every six months.
   • Inspect the venting system behind the dryer to ensure it is not damaged, crushed or restricted.
   • Outside wall dampers should be covered to keep out rain, snow, and dirt. Do not use wire screen or cloth to cover the wall damper as they collect lint.
   • Check to make sure the outdoor vent covering opens when the dryer is operating.
   • Hire a professional to clean the interior of the dryer and venting system annually as recommended by the manufacturer.
   • Replace coil-wired foil or plastic venting with rigid, non-ribbed metal duct.
   • Have gas dryers inspected by a professional annually to ensure the gas line and connection are free of leaks.
   • Check regularly to make sure nests of small animals, birds and insects aren’t blocking the vent.
   • Make sure the dryer is connected correctly using the correct electrical plug—a 220-volt outlet, not 110.
   • Keep the area around the clothes dryer free from combustible items.
   • Don’t operate a clothes dryer without a lint filter.
   • Don’t dry anything foam, rubber or plastic (i.e., bathroom rugs).
   • Don’t dry glass fiber materials.
   • Don’t dry materials that have come in contact with flammable materials (i.e., alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, etc.)
   • Don’t leave a clothes dryer running if you leave home or when you go to bed.

Your Insurance Loft advisor can walk you through safety concerns for your home. Call Insurance Loft today to discuss the homeowner’s insurance program that will protect you and your family from loss.