The laundry room in your home doesn’t exactly spell out “danger”; in most homes, it’s just a tucked-away space where socks go to die and you occasionally find pens that have fallen out of pockets. The greatest threat in there may seem to come from the risk of a stray red garment getting into your whites. For the most part, this is the case, but the comforting blast of warm air that emerges from the room could be hiding a genuine safety risk – or more than one, depending on the circumstances.
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Lint: Not just annoying
You only forget to clean the lint trap of your dryer once – run the appliance with a clogged trap and you’ll soon feel the sting of airborne smoke even if you can’t see it. But it could be your dryer vent that poses the bigger problem. The vent, which carries hot air from the dryer to the outside of your house, can easily get clogged, and because it is regularly blown through with warm air, the material dries out fast. In very little time, it can become a fire hazard.
It’s a little-known fact that clogged dryer vents are one of the leading causes of household fires, and it’s not just older machines that have this problem. Newer models can carry the same risk, especially if the vents haven’t been cleaned.
It’s not just about fires
When a dryer vent becomes blocked, it will also mean that your dryer has to work harder than it’s meant to, shortening the life of the appliance and multiplying your energy bills. On top of this, it can cause a buildup of heat and moisture inside the home, leading to peeling paint and mold among other problems.
If you’ve noticed that clothes are taking longer to dry, or there’s a musty smell around the dryer, it might be time for a closer look. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for or what to do about it, professional services such as Dryer Vent Squad can clear out the debris and make sure your system keeps running as it should. Regular clearouts will save you money and risk.
Beware of stored items
Because not much else goes on in the laundry room, it can often become a utility space which is used for – among other things – storage. This is fine for the most part, but there are some things that should never live near heat-producing appliances. These include:
- Cleaning chemicals or solvents
- Pressurized containers such as paint cans or aerosols
- Cardboard boxes and paper clutter
- Fabric softener sheets, if stored loosely
Other than the above, there’s not a lot you have to worry about when storing items in the laundry room, but any of the above can cause accidents which range from airborne contaminants to explosions and, of course, fire. As a good rule of thumb, anything you do store should be contained in a plastic box and sealed shut when not in use.
Your laundry room won’t be the first entry on your home safety checklist, but it should be on there. Keep an eye on what’s in there, and enlist professional help where necessary, and you’ll see the benefits in terms of safety, savings and durability.
This is a contributed post.
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