[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.

[Slings and Arrows]

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

[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!

[Fresh Wind]

I know someone who DID have a house fire because of a dryer. He said that clothes had been left in the dryer, and the heater hadn’t shut off as it should have, and that was the problem, but it might have been a lint problem too.

Either way, it’s a good idea to stay around while the dryer is running.

[gcraig]

We used to have a Whirlpool dryer (about 10 yrs old). My wife kept complaining that the clothes weren't getting dry because the dryer wasn't getting hot enough. So I broke out the toolbox and took it apart. I found a shorted wire and repaired it, and the dryer started working again.

After a few days of thinking about it I realized that I should get her a new dryer even though I fixed it. So we bought a new washer / dryer and she is happy now.

[T Minus Four]

Thank you so much! Time to pull the washer and dryer out anyway and clean back there.

[poobear]

Get yourself a fan booster for the dryer vent. If you can’t install it pay a handy man. Here is one:

http://residential.fantech.net/residential-products/laundry/dryer-booster-fans/

There are many available online. You clothes will dry a lot faster. Better yet, get a clothes line if your climate allows for it this time of year. You will save over $150 per month on your electric bill.

[Charles Martel]

This is a common enough problem that its on the "Dryer Troubleshooting" link at FixItNow.com (or Appliantology.org - both are sites run by the Samurai Appliance Repairman... really!) All dryers accumulate some lint inside the cabinet, even if you clean the lint trap diligently.

If your exhaust runs more than a few feet to its exit point, be sure to check for blockages. My previous houses all had a simple, short connection with the dryer next to the exterior wall. This house routes it up through a crawl space, 12 feet from the dryer's location. I cleaned a 5-gallon paint bucket full of lint out of that exhaust last Spring with a flex-shaft tool called a "Lint Eater". Damned previous owners didn't spend a dime on maintenance.

[RightOnline]

I say, with no hint of sarcasm.....dump the P.O.S. and get yourself a modern, well constructed dryer. They’ve come a long way. Such a thing never should have happened in the first place, and won’t with a quality product.

A new dryer isn’t really that expensive, and FAR cheaper than trying to rebuild your house.

[alexander_busek]

Check your dryer before you have a fire

We always check our dryer before having a fire.

A little bit of humor.*

Regards,

I know: Very little!