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Consumer Product Safety Commission
Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires
CPSC Document # 5022
Updated June 2003
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that in 1998, clothes dryers were associated with 15,600 fires, which
resulted in 20 deaths and 370 injuries. 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. To help prevent fires:
- Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end
of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust
duct is blocked.
- Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to
make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. To remove a blockage in the
exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Remember to reconnect the ducting to the
dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again.
- Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer
chassis periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter.
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- Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. Most manufacturers
specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow. The flexible plastic or foil
type duct can more easily trap lint and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow.
- Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oils,
cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains. If possible, wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile
chemicals on the clothes and, preferably, hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying
cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle. To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the
dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket.
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Send the link for this page to a friend! Consumers can obtain this publication and additional publication information from the Publications section of CPSC's web site or by sending your publication request to info@cpsc.gov.
This document is in the public domain. It may be reproduced without change in part or whole by an individual or organization
without permission. If it is reproduced, however, the Commission would appreciate knowing how it is used. Write the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission, Office of Information and Public Affairs, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 or send an
e-mail to info@cpsc.gov.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury
or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage
from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers
and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's
work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals
- contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products
over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter
at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
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