Check your dryer before you have a fire (Vanity)

me | February 13, 2012 | Me

[jmacusa]

Clean out the lint screen up front—simple as washing your hands to prevent the spread of germs.

[KarlInOhio]

Did you take pictures? If so (or even if you didn't) I recommend that you send your evaluation to the manufacturer. You might not get anything out of it, but at least they'll be notified of the flaws.

[Red Badger]

Now we know why you are ‘Smokin’ Joe.................

[svcw]

Yep. Been there burned that.
I realized when I was doing some projects with the kids “lint and wax” for fire starters that this could be a real problem. So I was going to do something some day, not soon enough.
Thanks again for the warning.

[mnehring]

Thank you.
I’ve added this to my to do list.

[nuconvert]

Thanks. Much appreciated.

[Sawdring]

How old was your dryer?

[cripplecreek]

I barely use the dryer during the summer and even hang clothes on the line during much of the winter. I personally think the loss of the clothesline is a loss for society.

My great grandmother had her clothesline deliberately put in next to the fence with her neighbor. Hanging laundry was a social event for her.

[immadashell]

Thank You. Important Message to all.

[ozarkgirl]

Guess what I save to start fires when I’m camping?

You got it, dryer lint.

Works way better than those “fire starters” at the store. Friend had already alerted me to the fire hazard of lint and being a camper himself, told me to save it for campfires.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Why no brand name? What are you consumer reports? Name it.

[Smokin' Joe]

Throughout the service life of the machine, the lint screen has been cleaned after every load. If anything, that might work against you because the fine lint particles, the sort which had accumulated in our machine, would blow through the screen.

The reason lint was accumulating inside the dryer was the ill-fitting pipe the manufacturer had used to connect to the vent line outside the dryer which allowed blowback into the case of the machine.

[Smokin' Joe]

No pictures, but the manufacturer has been notified (Model and serial number). I told them I don’t want anything for me, I just want them to eliminate the hazard and use better fitting materials.

[Smokin' Joe]

The nickname goes back to my firefighting days...(8^D)

[CPT Clay]

Thanks, I checked, everything seems secure.

[Slings and Arrows]

A couple of nights ago, my wife hollered to me that the dryer was smoking

[luvbach1]

Clean out the lint screen up front—simple as washing your hands to prevent the spread of germs.

I think you're on to something. I've used electric dryers for decades, following the routine above, and never have had a problem. I strongly suspect the dryer was used without cleaning the lint filter before every use.

[grobdriver]

Heard other stories like this from a colleague whose husband is a firefighter.

Wife-unit thinks I'm nuts when I refuse to leave the dryer going when we step out to the store or dinner or something.

I either open the door to stop it while we're out, or we wait until the clothes are dry.

Never leave a drying running unattended!

[Smokin' Joe]

About five years, and we are the original owners. Keep in mind, too, that it has done an average of 2-3 loads a day during that time.