What You Didn't Know About Your Clothes Dryer

Since they first started being mass produced in the early 1900s, clothes dryers have become a staple in our households. If you are one of the 80% of Americans that has a clothes dryer in their home, there's something you need to know...

They are a big-time fire hazard.

It's true – your clothes dryer is one of the biggest fire hazards in your house. But unlike furnaces, ovens, fireplaces, and candles, many people do not know about the dangers of clothes dryers. Check out these facts from the National Fire Protection Association.

• Clothes dryers cause more than 15,000 residential fires every year.
• One out of every 22 house fires is caused by a clothes dryer.
• Clothes dryers are responsible for more fires each year than chimneys.

So, what can you do to protect yourself?

The most common cause of clothes dryer fires was failure to clean. As your clothes dryer spins your clothes around, they produce lint. Much of this lint is trapped in the filter screen, but some of itmakes its way to your exhaust vent. The dryer exhaust vent is the long, winding tube attached to the back of your appliance. It is responsible for releasing excess heat to the outside, but it cannot effectively do this if it's clogged with lint.

Use these two tips to stay safe:

• Clean the lint screen before every load.
• Have your exhaust vent professionally cleaned once every year.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional dryer vent cleaning services to homes and businesses on Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, call us for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.