Dryer fire safety checklist

Failure to clean was the leading factor in clothes dryer fires in fire department reports from 2018 to 2020, at 31 percent. Lint builds up in the dryer or its exhaust duct, blocks the airflow and lets heat build up. It collects in three places: the filter, the back of the machine and the duct to the outside.

Every load

• Clean the lint filter before and after each load
• Never run the dryer without the lint filter in place

Once a year

• Have the vent duct cleanedBook a dryer vent service, especially for a duct that runs through the attic, a wall or the roof.
• Clean the lint from behind the dryerUnplug an electric dryer before you pull it out. Have a technician or the vent service move a gas dryer.
• Check that the duct behind the dryer isn't crushed or damagedA duct pinched flat between the dryer and the wall restricts the air. Behind a gas dryer, leave this to the technician.
• Watch the outdoor vent while the dryer runsThe flap should open. If it stays shut, have the vent looked at.

When something looks wrong

• Notice loads that stay dampClothes still damp after a normal cycle, or drying that takes longer than usual, can mean a blocked lint screen or exhaust duct.
• Have plastic or foil duct replaced with metalMost manufacturers specify rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. Plastic or foil accordion duct traps lint more easily and kinks or crushes, which cuts the airflow. Have the vent service or an appliance technician do it.
• Take care with clothes soiled by oil or gasolineThis includes cooking oil, cleaning agents, finishing oils and stains. Wash these clothes more than once and hang them to dry. If they go in the dryer, use the lowest heat and a cycle with a cool-down at the end, and don't leave them piled in the dryer or a basket afterward.

Around the dryer

• Plug the dryer straight into a wall outletNever use an extension cord with a major appliance. It can overheat and start a fire.
• Keep the area around the dryer clearStore anything that can burn on shelves away from it.
• Have the dryer installed and serviced by a professionalA service person can also clean the inside of the cabinet from time to time. Moving a gas dryer or reconnecting its gas line is a job for a professional.