Dryer fires and chimney fires are two of the major
causes of household disasters. Each of them is as devastating as the other, but
dryer fires are more ferocious in a way that they spread sneakily and remain virtually
unnoticed until they take the form a large conflagration.
It is best to know the causes behind these
disasters and take preventive measures before any unpleasant accident may
occur.
Causes of Chimney and Dryer Fires
The wood burning in the fire place forms
by-products of soot, water vapors and flammable gases. These ingredients go up
in the chimney and stick to the walls, forming a sticky substance called
creosote.
Creosote is a combustible substance that
catches flame when it is accumulated in excessive amounts on the chimney walls.
With high internal temperature, the gases in the chimney become hot enough to
transfer the heat to the creosote, which results in a chimney fire.
Similarly, in a dryer vent, the flammable lint
works as the fuel for starting a dryer fire. Lint keeps gathering in the vent
corners and grooves until it restricts the passage of hot air being pushed out
of the dryer. The hot air is unable to freely exit the dryer chamber, so it
transfers its heat energy to the dryer walls and clothes.
At one point, the temperature may be right to
set alight the lint which burns like a cigarette, giving off a burning odor. If
the dryer is unattended, the burning smell will remain unnoticed, and result in
a blazing fire.
Warning signs
There are many warning signs that the chimney
is about to catch fire. Some of them are large chunks of creosote sticking to
the inner masonry of the chimney, tiles and flakes torn, warp metal cover on
the chimney and damaged TV antenna near the chimney.
As for the dryer vent, the alert signs include
longer drying time, extremely hot and moist clothes and hot outer body of the
dryer and particular burning odor. Also, there would be lint smeared around the
outer vent and the exhaust hood.
Safety Precautions
Along with performing a routine DIY
maintenance check, chimneys and dryers need thorough cleaning at least twice a
year. There are cleaning kits available in the market which can remove minor
debris. However, if either the chimney or the dryer vent has not been cleaned
for some months, it is recommended to call a professional cleaner who can
perform a comprehensive analysis and repair of your fireplace or dryer vent.
Dryer Vent Dr NV offers residents of Carson City, Reno and Sparks with dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent replacement truckee. Be on the safe side. Schedule an appointment today.
