Clothes dryer fires are more common than you might think. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that dryers and washing machines cause an average of 15,970 fires each year, with dryers causing 92% of them and an average of $200 million in property damage.
Lint is the leading cause of dryer fires. It's highly flammable, and it's everywhere. Lint naturally accumulates in your dryer and dryer exhaust system. This buildup makes the dryer work harder for each load and the lint can work its way into the heating element, which is bad news.
Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.
The most common cause of a burning smell coming from your dryer is when the lint filter gets clogged. This not only causes a burning smell, but it's also extremely dangerous, as it can start a fire. Most manufacturers recommend that you clean the filter out after every use to avoid this from happening.
Check the Lint Filter
One of the most common culprits of a burning smell in your dryer is excessive lint buildup. Remove any lint from the filter, and look inside the dryer itself. There could be a layer of lint in there, too.
Play it safe and split a larger load into two smaller loads. Keep the area around your dryer clean. Sweep any dirt or lint from under and around your dryer and avoid placing anything on top of it, including clothing, cleaning supplies, and garbage. Watch for warning signs.
Occasionally, a red glow may be seen inside the dryer drum. This is normal. The glow is from the heating element and is most noticeable if the cycle has been interrupted to remove or add an article of clothing. During the drying cycle, the element heats and glows.
A good rule of thumb is to have your dryer exhaust vents inspected and cleaned by a professional at least once per year. However, if you have a household that uses your dryer often, such as one with a lot of children, you may want to consider increasing that amount to every six months.
By not clearing out the lint, the dryer becomes a fire hazard. Every year, there are more than 3,000 house fires in the United States caused by dryers. A couple seconds is all it takes to clean out your dryer's lint trap. Lint is very combustible.
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States, starting almost half of all fires. Heating is the second highest cause, followed by electrical systems/lighting equipment and intentional fires. Smoking is the fifth highest cause, but is the leading cause of civilian home fire deaths.
Lint Trap. One of the most common reasons for that dryer burning smell is a build-up of lint in your lint trap. We're often surprised to discover how many homeowners aren't aware that the lint trap on a dryer should be emptied after every use.
Once a dryer gets too hot, this component reacts to the increased temperature and shuts the appliance off automatically. However, if a cycling thermostat isn't functioning, it may be why a clothing dryer is overheating and shuts off.
If your dryer is hot to the touch, it means heat isn't being exhausted out of the dryer properly due to a blockage. A clogged dryer vent can cause the dryer's heating element to overheat, leading to a fire.
The glow is normal. The element is made from a special wire, usually Ni-chrome, that converts the electricity to heat. It is designed to glow Orange-Red and not burn out.
The Advantage To Dryer Sheets
Aside from leaving fabrics smelling fresh and feeling soft, dryer sheets provide an important safety service. They help eliminate static on clothing. Static can cause dryer fires if a spark ignites debris in the lint trap. (An important reason to keep the lint trap clean.)
Overloading is one of the most common reasons for dryer breakdowns. As the motor pulley attempts to turn continuously during the drying cycle, friction can cause it to burn through the belt that turns the drum. The pulley itself can also breakdown. The result is not always immediate.
The average life expectancy of a dryer is around 10-13 years. And no matter how great your clothes dryer is, all appliances will wear down eventually. Many are curious as to when to replace dryer?
If you can smell a burning smell coming from your dryer, then you need to immediately turn your dryer off so you can investigate what the cause is. Thankfully, it is quite straightforward to check out all of the main causes, such as a buildup of lint, a faulty thermostat, a broken dryer belt, or a faulty motor.
If your dryer has a faint odor and only needs a light cleaning, soapy water is the most effective way to remove odors from the machine. If your dryer has a strong mildew odor, follow up the soapy water cleaning by wiping the interior of your dryer down with bleach in order to kill any mildew.
If you hear a loud rumbling noise coming from your dryer, the blower wheel may be responsible. This component circulates air in the drum and blows it out through the rear exhaust vent. If it's loose, off-balance, or blocked by lint or debris, the blower wheel will make a rumbling or thumping noise.