So are dryer fires from a buildup of lint, the leading cause of house fires?

“We dug up stats from the National Fire Protection Association and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Between 2010-2014 fire departments responded to an average of 16,000 fires every year involving clothes dryers or washing machines.

On Average 13 people die and 440 are injured every year from these fires.

Dryer and Washer fires were the sixth leading cause of home fires between 2011 and 2015, causing more fires than candles, but less fires than space heaters.

So, ya, they are a leading cause of fires—that's VERIFIED.

But is it specifically the leftover lint?

Yes.

CPSC data indicates that the largest known contributing factor to clothes dryer related fires is accumulation of lint in the airflow system.

Twenty-seven percent of all dryer fires were started by lint, 26 percent of fires were started by the clothes themselves.

So we can Verify, yes, dryer fires caused by lint buildup is one of the a leading causes of house fires. Experts say clean your lint trap after every use and clean your lint vent at least once a year.”

-13News Now

9 Tips for dryer fire prevention

1. Clean out the lint. “It starts with cleaning out the lint filter every time you use the dryer.” says John Hall, Ph.D., division director of fire Analysis & Research for the National Fire Protection Association. He also advises clearing out the vent pipe to reduce the chance of fire and to maintain the efficiency of the dryer. Yearly is Advised.

2. Install with care. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing the vent pipe. Use a short, straight pipe that’s an adequate distance from the wall. By reducing the bends in the dryer vent pipe, it creates fewer opportunities for lint to gather. If you have to vent your dryer over a long distance, consider investing in a dryer vent fan. These automatic electric devices speed up airflow through the duct every time you turn on your dryer to keep things moving along. A dryer vent fan should be installed by a licensed electrician.

3. Clear out combustibles. Move any flammables like cleaning supplies far away from your dryer. Also regularly sweep out dust in the areas around and underneath your dryer.

4. Opt for a solid metal dryer duct. Research shows that flexible foil or plastic ducts can sag and lead to lint buildup at low points. Metal ducts of any variety don’t sag, and they’re more likely to contain any fires that would start.

5. Read tags. If the care label reads tumble dry low, don’t turn the dryer up to high. Also use caution with certain items like bath mats, padded bras and bibs—they may contain rubber that shouldn’t be exposed to hot temperatures.

6. Exercise extra caution with flammable liquids. Wash clothing stained with volatile chemicals more than once—and definitely opt to line dry over machine dry.

7. Use your clothes to diagnose problems. Clothes that no longer feel dry or that are extra hot to the touch after a normal dry cycle are a telltale sign that something’s wrong. Before doing the next load, check for a plugged vent and clean out any lint.

8. Don’t dry and dash. Turn off your dryer if you need to step out during the laundry cycle.

9. Give the outdoor vent a peek. Make sure that the outdoor vent flap isn’t covered by snow or debris.

Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage structures, destroy homes and injure or kill people. 

Proper Maintenance
Clean chimneys don’t catch fire. Make sure a professional inspects your fireplace annually, and sweeps and repairs it whenever needed. Your sweep may have other maintenance recommendations depending on how you use your fireplace or stove.   ​