Not Cleaning the Clothes Dryer and Duct is the Major Cause of Orlando Dryer Fires!
Modern
home appliances are safer today than they were just a decade ago, but
the amount of fires has not decreased. Failure to clean the dryer and
ducts accounts for more than 34 percent of the dryer fires in the United
States. This is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires. Other
causes include manufacturing defects and poor installation. Foreign
manufacturing and foreign component suppliers are another cause.
Increasing quality issues are associated with the extremely rapid growth
of fires connected with appliances. More home clothes dryer fires occur
in the fall and winter months and peak in January.
You should check your dryers and appliances out for manufacturer defects and recalls at https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls .
What Type of Dryer is Your Home Designed for?
The
dryer manufacturers set limits of the length and type of duct that can
be used with their dryers. These limits are based on the type of
equipment installed in the dryer. Damp lint requires a certain volume
of air to move it through the ducts. Homeowners will often select a
dryer and make it fit their house. Some dryers are designed with larger
motors and fans to move the lint farther. Economy or inexpensive
dryers often have the smallest motors and fans. All dryers are not
created equal.
Dryer Duct Design and Orientation Limits the Length .
The
type of duct material, vent hood, the number of turns the duct and
orientation, horizontal or vertical affect the length of the duct.
Below is the dryer manufacturers' requirement based on the model of
dryer.
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| Ducts should have no mechanical fasteners. |
The
type of material used for the duct is very important in venting lint
and moisture. Each 90-degree turn decreases the length of the duct by 5
feet. The use of a flat hood decreases the length by half. Using
flexible vent ducts also cuts the length by half. Rigid metal ducts are
required to be taped at the joints and not fastened by screws. The
screw shank protruding into the duct creates and place for lint to
accumulate.
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| Flexible and vinyl ducts are not allowed
because they collect lint and are a fire hazard! |
Homeowners often choose flexible metal or vinyl duct for their ease of
installation. These types of ducts are not allowed for use on a dryer in
many areas due to the fire hazard. Flexible ducts have many areas for
lint to accumulate within the duct. Vinyl and PVC when heated create an
electrostatic charge that attracts lint, these are not allowed. Most
municipalities and building
codes require rigid metal ducts without mechanical fasteners. These
rigid ducts have fewer areas to collect lint and obstruct the airflow.
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| Clogged gooseneck dryer vent on the roof. |
Gooseneck dryer vent hoods are common in Deltona and often clogged due to the location on the roof. The homeowners are either unaware of them or just forget about them until they become a problem. Most of these types of vents we inspect are clogged. Many of these types of vent hoods when clogged cause the duct to separate in the attic. Damaged ducts pump moisture and lint into the attic causing moisture damage, wood rot and mold growth. Gooseneck hoods because of their location on the roof should be scheduled for yearly inspection and cleaning by a professional.
Annual Dryer Duct Inspection and Cleaning
All dryer ducts should be inspected and cleaned yearly. Check with your Home Inspector when
you buy your home. A dryer duct inspection may reveal improper
installation or materials. If you have a larger family and use the dryer
daily or more often, your ducts may require semi-annual cleaning. Less
frequent use may only require biennial cleaning. Protect your family
and sleep soundly at night. Have your ducts inspected and cleaned in
the fall when you change your smoke detector batteries.
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| Frank Carr, Florida Licensed Home Inspector |
Frank Carr is the Owner / Inspector at First Choice Home
Inspections in Deltona, FL serving Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Lake
Counties. Formerly in the building trades, Frank’s focus is a safe home
in the Orlando Metro and Daytona Beach areas of Central Florida and building FCHI. We believe that consumers have the right to expect
the highest standards of thoroughness, fairness and effectiveness from
their home inspector and that is exactly what we provide.
First Choice Home Inspections
Residential Home Inspections in Central Florida
(386) 624-3893
Website: http://1homeinspector.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/1stChoiceHomeIn
