When homeowners think of fire prevention, clothes dryer maintenance and air duct cleaning might not be the first strategies that come to mind. However, the United States Fire Administration (USFA) records that 2,900 house fires result from clothes dryers every year. Safety is one of the main reasons why the expert staff at America’s Best Cleaning & Restoration Services works tirelessly to make homes safer for Rochester, MN, residents. Here’s how maintaining your dryer vents can prevent fires.

Remove Excess Lint

Dryer lint is a highly flammable material composed of tiny fabric fibers from clothing. The materials used to make garments—from cotton and wool to more synthetic options—are incredibly combustible, especially in hyperdry conditions like the clothes dryer. Because of this, you should clean the lint trap filter before every new load of clothes you throw in the dryer. 

Additionally, when lint builds up in the air ducts of dryers, they can overheat, leading to spontaneous combustion. Regularly emptying the lint filter helps avoid this, but some debris will still enter the vents. The only solution is an annual air duct cleaning to remove the combustible conditions.

Clean Dryers

According to the USFA, 34% of the dryer fires are from failing to clean them. Hiring professionals who are trained and knowledgeable about air duct cleaning and other pertinent issues can drastically reduce this risk. Professionals know the best techniques for effective cleaning, and they possess the tools to complete these jobs thoroughly and efficiently, allowing them to finish their work and return your machine to working order in a minimum amount of time.

With over 28 years of experience, America’s Best Cleaning & Restoration Services is the best option for dryer maintenance. Their high-quality services—including mold remediation and carpet cleaning—have contributed to them earning accreditation with the Better Business Bureau^®. Call them today at (507) 280-8171 to schedule air duct cleaning, or visit their website to learn more about their services.