Even electric dryers can catch fire. The main cause of electric dryer fires is overheating. If you use your dryer for too long, or if you leave the door open while drying clothes, then you could end up with a fire. Electric dryers catch fire often because they are designed to heat up quickly, so they overheat easily.
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.
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.
Dryer fires usually start beneath the dryer when the motor overheats. Overheating is caused by a build-up of lint in the duct that increases the drying time and blocks the flow of air, just like cholesterol in your arteries can build up and block the flow of blood to your heart.
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.
If you haven't cleaned your dryer vent in a while there are some tell-tale signs to look for that will let you know you should check it out: Your dryer takes much longer than a typical 45-minute cycle to dry. Clothes come out of the dryer damp. Your dryer feels very hot to the touch while running.
A blocked or clogged dryer vent prevents your machine from working properly and can even cause a house fire. There are local services that can help you maintain a clean, safe dryer vent. However, in order to reap the benefits of their service, you need to have your dryer vent cleaned before a disastrous fire strikes.
Smoke is an obvious sign that your dryer is catching on fire, but be alert to other warnings. A burning odor, popping sounds or excessive heat around the appliance are all cause for alarm.
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.
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.
A new dryer is likely to release some odd smells. The dryer's inside cabinet gets very hot during operation, and the components used in the manufacture of appliances may contain a bit of oil or coatings that will off-gas off during the first several uses.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 15,000 home fires per year are caused by clothes dryers. And SO MANY of these could have been prevented, according to firefighters. The solution? The right products and maintenance.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that clogged dryer vents are responsible for more than 15,000 dryer fires each year. These fires cost homeowners more than $200 million in damages, as well as hundreds of injuries.
It's been said that the use of fabric softener sheets can cause the heating element in your dryer to fail and potentially cause a fire. There is no evidence that suggests fabric softener sheets can cause your dryer's heating element to fail.
However, if you start to notice some unusual sounds coming from the dryer, it could be an indication that something is wrong. If you start to hear thumping, squealing, squeaking, or humming, these are not normal sounds for a dryer to make and they mean that the dryer needs to be looked at.
A poorly drained dryer can become blocked with lint and result in potential fires in the home. The lint that blocks the dryer vents can catch fire when temperatures rise and result in significant home damage.
If you pull your clothes out of the dryer and notice that there are burn marks on them, your dryer is running far too hot. If your dryer is hot to the touch, that may be another sign of too much heat. Naturally, the dryer will be a little warm to the touch while it's running, but it shouldn't be significantly hot.
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?
Lint buildup
The heat from the dryer gets hot enough to ignite the tiny pieces of fabric trapped in the exhaust system. As soon as you notice a burning smell coming from the dryer, stop it mid-cycle and turn off power to the appliance.
The Belt Might Be Slipping
Dryer belts don't last forever. As they begin to wear over time they may start to slip. This is one of the most common causes of that burning smell you may be faced with. If the drum in your dryer stops spinning, there's a good chance that a worn belt is a reason.
Mechanical and electrical failure account for a significant portion of dryer fires. This includes short circuits in a failing heating element, overheating bearings that no longer turn freely, and old wiring.
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.