It’s important to know what to do if your clothes dryer is on fire. Every year, statistics show that there are fires started because of the clothes dryer. The extent of the damage may differ from these cases, but there is damage to property and loss of life for some.
Going through a house fire is an experience that will really change many aspects of your life. That’s why it’s important to know the right steps to take such as regular Dryer vent cleaning Chantilly VA to ensure that the clothes dryer doesn’t catch fire.
Identify If the Blaze Can Be Contained
Knowing whether to stay and attempt to put out a dryer fire or evacuate immediately will help with self-preservation. This will also give you ample time to do the correct things instead of panicking with what to do.
Of course, it’s unavoidable to feel overwhelmed when the fire is starting from your clothes driver. You still have to force yourself to be attentive so you aren’t risking your safety for a fire that is impossible to put out either way. Below are some tips that can help you in identifying if there’s a fighting chance:
You can smell the burning order but don’t see any flames
You feel excessive heat coming from the clothes dryer but no visible flames
The flames that you see are shorter than your arm’s length
The path to your exit won’t be immediately blocked if the blaze grows stronger
Putting Out the Fire
If you can see that there’s a chance for the blaze to be contained, you should grab the fire extinguisher as soon as possible. Don’t be complacent when you no longer see the flame. Aim the fire extinguisher to where you hear popping sounds or feel excessive heat. Before all of these, however, you should inform the fire department of your predicament.
The most important thing that you have to keep in mind, though, is that you should not attempt to open the dryer. The door of the clothes dryer may not be visibly on fire but it might be too hot for you to touch. You will also be at an increased risk of inhaling toxic smoke that’s going to come from synthetic materials that are on fire.
Aiming the nozzle of the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire will help you use it at its most effective. Use a sweeping motion to spray the area where you can see the fire. When you believe you’ve put out the fire, you should unplug the appliance from the outlet. Don’t do this if there’s a risk in getting to the wall outlet.
Clothes Dryer Fire Prevention
Instead of having to go through putting out the fire, you can always get ahead of it by preventing the fire altogether. By ensuring that you get regular dryer vent cleaning Chantilly VA, you will reduce the risk of the appliance catching on fire due to overheating lint. You’ll also be able to get an assessment of how stable the dryer still is.
Dryer vent cleaning Chantilly VA services provided by JCS Home Services does not only help keep your dryer running efficiently but also saves you from a potential fire at home. Contact us today for more information.