Fire safety is of the utmost importance in a home so, every now and then it’s a good idea to have a check through the home and look for ways to improve in this area. In this article, we are going to look at dryer safety, particularly the vent. How can this become a fire hazard?
A tumble dryer is designed to blow hot air into a rotating drum of wet clothing. As air flows through the wet clothing water evaporates from them creating water vapor. The water vapor needs a way of escaping from the drum and does so through the dryer vent. Another product that is formed while clothes are drying is lint, this also needs to escape from the machine through the vent.
What will happen if there is no vent attached to the dryer? This can cause the dryer to overheat and the lint, which is extremely flammable, will start to accumulate in the machine. A situation like this creates a dangerous fire hazard which may end up with the dryer bursting into flames. Tumble dryers have been the cause of many devastating house fires.
The washing machine and dryer are very often kept in small spaces of the home and, because the dryer vent is normally situated at the back of the machine, it can be very difficult to see if it has become damaged or disconnected. Given the importance of the vent, which is usually made of a bendable plastic or metal duct, it is a good idea to frequently check that it is still attached to the machine and has not developed any kinks or become crushed in places which would restrict airflow.
