A 2012 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) report shows that residential buildings are the most vulnerable to dryer fires and its devastating aftermaths. The results of these reports are heavily alarming. Most homeowners are unaware that clothes dryers are the most dangerous fire hazard in their households. Unlike for gas leaks and cooking appliances, awareness for clothes dryer fires aren’t as prevalent as it should be. Read on to learn more about clothes dryer fires in residential buildings according to FEMA.
Laundry Areas Are the Most Vulnerable to Dryer Fires
As expected, statistics show that 82.6% of these fires occur in laundry areas. This shouldn’t come as a surprise if clothes dryer fire awareness is as extensive as it should be. Necessary precautions must be taken to keep residential establishments safe. Since most of these fires originate from laundry areas, it would be a good idea to have fire extinguisher near the area.
The Role of Our Seasonal Laundry Habits
It seems that these fires increase in number depending on the season. Between the fall and winter months, FEMA reports that dryer fire numbers are at its highest compared to spring and summer. January leads the months with the most percentage of dryer fires at 11%. From September to December, the numbers rise from 6.7% to 9.0%. Looking at these numbers, we can tell that our seasonal laundry habits are possibly a factor.
Fall and winter are the seasons where wooly, thick clothing are worn the most. Not to mention the thick beddings we use to keep warm during cold nights. This along with the fact we are less likely to air dry clothes outdoors contribute to excessive lint buildup.
What Causes Dryer Fires?
According to FEMA, most fires are caused by operational deficiency at 47% of all fires. And the leading specific factor? Failure to clean. You read that right. Dirty dryer vents are the leading cause of residential dryer fires. The excessive lint buildup especially during fall and winter is highly combustible and should not be taken lightly. This is also backed up by the fact that FEMA identifies dust, fiber and lint as the first to ignite in clothes dryers at 27.6% Believe it or not, regular dryer vent cleaning and maintenance can actually save you and your home.
It does not matter if your dryers are built with all the safety features available in the world. If your dryer chassis and vent are clogged with lint, the restriction of proper airflow is bound to cause overheating. Neglect is a human error that is to blame for the deaths and millions worth of property damage. Fortunately, neglect can be dealt with while it’s not too late. To know more about dryer vent cleaning and safety in San Diego, visit our homepage. For the complete report, visit https://www.usfa.fema.gov.
