Poorly maintained dryer vents and old holiday lights can both be a fire hazard and neither should be on when no one is home or residents are asleep
Here is a riddle from the Dryer Vent Cleaning Wizard: What do dryer vents and holiday lights have in common? The answer: Both can be a fire hazard. Homeowners should never leave the house or go to sleep while the dryer is running and the Christmas lights are on.
When dryer vents are clogged with lint, air flow is restricted and the dryer can overheat. Increased drying time is an indication of a clogged dryer vent making the dryer work harder and use more energy to do its job. Eventually, this situation will lead to a dryer fire.
Dryer vent cleaning is the best way to eliminate a fire hazard and improve dryer performance. Dryer vent cleaning is important maintenance to increase dryer efficiency and extend the life of the appliance. Proper dryer vent installation is also important to be sure the system meets current safety standards.
Gerry Rhen, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard (http://www.getthelintout.org/) shares fire prevention tips with his customers while performing dryer vent service. As he gets into the holiday spirit he provides the following safety tips:
• Choose lights that are safety tested by a reputable laboratory, for example UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories). This information will be noted on the packaging the lights come in if they are deemed safe by these laboratories.
• Use the mini lights; the older style, larger bulbs burn much hotter. Choose lights that have fuses in the plugs.
• Check your lights before hanging them each year; look for broken sockets, loose connections and frayed or bare wire.
• Check the wattage when replacing burned out bulbs.
• For outdoor decorating, check the package to be sure the lights can be used outdoors. Plug outdoor decorations into a GFCI outlet and secure lights with insulated holders, not tacks or nails.
Dryer vents and Christmas lights have more in common than one would think. Both can be fire hazards. Never leave the house or go to sleep when the dryer is running and the Christmas lights are on. Clean dryer vents annually and check Christmas light strands for damage and wear before using. Dryer Vent Wizard wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season.
About Dryer Vent Wizard:
Dryer Vent Wizard is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the largest chain of dryer vent cleaning, repair, replacement and alternation specialists in the U.S. with nearly 60 franchisees in major markets. Dryer Vent Wizard franchisees work to promote public awareness on the importance of dryer vent cleaning to prevent dryer fires and save energy. Consumer education while making clothes dryers safer and greener are the main focus of DVW franchisees. Dryer Vent Wizard was founded in 2004 by Dave Lavalle who is also the founder of the Mr. Handyman franchise.