The leading cause of home clothes dryer and washer fires is failure to clean them.
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Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.
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Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.
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Make sure you clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.
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Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.
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Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating. Once a year, or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.
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Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a professional to make sure that the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.
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Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly.
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Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and don’t overload your dryer.
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Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed.