Dryer Fire Prevention: Lint, Vents, and the Outside Flap

Mostly, lint that was not cleaned.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), citing the National Fire Incident Reporting System, says failure to clean was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires in homes from 2018 to 2020, at 31%. Its dryer safety flyer puts it simply: you are at higher risk of a clothes dryer fire if you do not clean your lint filter and dryer vents. Lint is fine, dry, and flammable, and a restricted vent traps both the lint and the heat.

Before and after each cycle.

Never run the dryer without the lint filter in place. Clean it before and after each cycle, USFA says, not once a day.

Where lint collects out of sight.

USFA’s next two steps are the ones people skip. Clean the back of the dryer, where lint builds up. Then check the venting system behind the dryer to make sure it is not damaged, crushed, or restricted — a dryer pushed back against the wall can flatten a flexible duct. Finally, go outside while the dryer runs and make sure the outdoor vent covering opens. A flap that stays shut means the exhaust, and the lint in it, has nowhere to go.

Slow drying is the early one.

Clothes that take longer than usual to dry point to exhaust that is not leaving. The dryer taking too long guide walks through the outside-airflow check that separates a vent problem from a heating fault. Treat a burning smell as a reason to stop the dryer and have it inspected, not to run another load.

Professional service, and a wall outlet.

USFA recommends having your dryer installed and serviced by a professional. Plug major appliances, including washers and dryers, directly into a wall outlet and never use an extension cord with a major appliance, which can overheat and start a fire. A dryer that keeps tripping its breaker needs an electrician; see why a breaker keeps tripping.

A blocked vent can send exhaust inside.

A gas dryer’s vent also carries combustion gases. USFA says to keep vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace clear of snow and debris, and CPSC says never to use a gas clothes dryer to heat the home. Put a carbon monoxide alarm outside sleeping areas and on every level; see where to install CO alarms. A working smoke alarm near the laundry area gives warning if a fire does start; see smoke alarm chirping for upkeep.