Safety Group Offers Advice on De Niro Fire

Robert DeNiro’s apartment fire this weekend is a reminder to homeowners of the potential hazards of dryer lint build-up. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends annual clothes dryer vent inspections and provides advice to homeowners to prevent such damages.

There are a number of things that you should do to protect your home from fire – and one of the most important (and sometimes ignored) starts with your dryer vent.

Why is that?
For starters, lint is highly flammable. During the drying process, the loose fibers that come out of your clothes cause lint to build up in your dryer vent.

How can I tell if my dryer vent needs cleaned?
Your clothes will take a much longer time to dry when dryer vent lint starts to build up inside the lint trap. This should be an automatic reminder that your lint trap needs to be cleaned. When too much lint builds up in your dryer duct, hot air can’t escape from the inside, and the build up can result in a fire.

How often should I clean it?
The dryer vent should be cleaned regularly both inside and outside the dryer.

This seems like more than I can handle. Is there someone I can call to do it for me?
Yes. Dryer vent cleaning can be a difficult task if you don’t know what you’re doing. When in doubt, contact your local dryer exhaust technician, who has all the necessary tools to complete the job without the headache.

Where can I find my local dryer exhaust technician?
It’s easy! Just use the locator tool on our website: www.csia.org. CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps® and CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians® have earned the chimney and venting industry’s most respected credential by passing an intensive examination based on fire codes, clearances and standards for the construction and maintenance of chimney and venting systems. This knowledge allows them to expertly diagnose and solve chimney and venting problems.