I am very good about cleaning the lint trap inside my dryer after every load. I also will occasionally go outside and clean out the dryer vent as far as my hand can reach. But did you know that the entire dryer ventilation system should be cleaned by someone who knows what they're doing at least twice a year?
I found this out this weekend when a house in the neighborhood across the street from me started on fire.
Cause of fire: dryer lint.
Devastation left behind: Laundry room burnt. Damage in room {attic} above laundry room. Soot and smoke damage to majority of house.
Incomprehensible loss: Heartbreak! The family dog, a beautiful German Shepherd dog, perished in the fire and the family cat is still fighting for her life. This family has two children Honey's age. This is such a horrible tragedy.
I for one will be scheduling a thorough cleaning of the dryer and venting system and will never leave the dryer running when no one is home again.
This is the second house fire in that neighborhood since December, the other was caused by an electrical spark outside I believe. Needless to say fire safety has been discussed here. Do you have a plan?
I know this post is a bummer but if it will help save your house, your pets and your family than it was worth it.
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14 comments:
We have totally redone the laundry room in the last year. The dryer vents outside now and we clean it out fairly frequently. Just one of those things that Nick checks on with some regularity.
PS: I tagged you on my blog, just something fun :)
I had no idea!!! I definitely will be looking into this! So sad for the family :(
my son had a teacher whose house caught on fire due to her dryer totally freaked me out i never leave my dryer on now when i'm not home
That is SO horrible!! :(
I didn't know that either!
I will definitely be having someone come clean the whole ventilation system. That is just too scary.
That is soooo scarey! I am TERRIBLE about checking the lint trap. That poor family.
When I left today, I left my dryer going. I never do that either. This is a sad story. I need to have M check the outside vent!!!
I hate that the family pets were involved. =(
We clean ours a couple times a year. Didn't really realize it needed it until the dryer was taking forever to dry... I am glad we discovered it when we did.
So sorry to hear about the neighbors & the poor animals!
Oh my gosh that is just horrible. I definitely don't clean mine as often as I should either. I better check into it!
I clean the lint trap every load, and sometimes I shove that skinny baseboard attachment for the vacuum down as far as I can into the lint trap slot, but that's it. How sad for that family. I guess I will have to schedule a cleaning too. :(
House fire is one of my major paranoias. We have had 2 homes of good friends and neighbors burn down close to us. It was awful. They completely burned to the ground and basically had to rebuild.
I never leave my dryer running when we aren't home, or at night. I need to find who does professional dryer vent cleaning. I also recheck all my stove burners, oven and curling/flat irons to make sure nothing is left on like 3 times before leaving my house. My kids make fun of me.
House fire is one of my major paranoias. We have had 2 homes of good friends and neighbors burn down close to us. It was awful. They completely burned to the ground and basically had to rebuild.
I never leave my dryer running when we aren't home, or at night. I need to find who does professional dryer vent cleaning. I also recheck all my stove burners, oven and curling/flat irons to make sure nothing is left on like 3 times before leaving my house. My kids make fun of me.
How scary!!! So sad!! Why can't they come up with an home owner's or home accessory buyers guide with tips like that!! Instead you have to wait till something like that happens to learn the RIGHT way to do things!! AGH!!
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