Dryer safety is one of the most important issues you should consider when you think about protecting your home from a fire.

Clothes dryers are found in over 81 million homes in the United States

According to the Underwriters Laboratories, each year there are over 15 thousand fires caused by lack of attention to dryer maintenance.

Integrity Home Inspector Michael Reel's mission is your peace of mind.

He says dryer safety starts with proper installation and making sure you have the right dryer hose is key.

Reel says, "When we use the flexible vinyl hoses, which are no longer approved for installation, we run the risk of creating some serious fires in homes. Vinyl hoses, over time will deteriorate and will allow a lent fire to breach and come into the home creating a home fire."

He says a flexible metal hose is what homeowners need to buy.

Reel says that the hose should be ran as straight as possible from the dryer itself to the outside of the home. And it should never exhaust into an attic space or a crawl space. It must exit the home

After it's hooked up correctly, you can keep it running smoothly by doing a simple task.

Reel says, '"The dryer should be checked each time before you start a load and then when you complete a load. Clean that dryer lent filter out to make sure there isn't a build up."

The home inspector also says maintaining clean exhaust duct work reduces energy costs and saves lives.

Reel also says when you purchase equipment for your dryer look for the UL label.

Here are some more tips from Underwriters Laboratories:

Tips To Reduce Risk Of Dryer Fires

-Clean the removable filters with each load

-Dismantle the metal flex hose and remove the lint build-up in exhaust duct and exterior outlet each year.

-Use proper electrical cord and breaker/fuse size.

-Ensure proper wire connection or gas pipe installation.

-Reduce the number of turns or bends in the exhaust vent.

-Do not use flexible vinyl dryer hoses.

-Simple maintenance can ensure more trouble free operation and a higher degree of safety for your family.

For more information go to www.ul.com.

Integrity Home Inspections LLC

www.wvhomeinspections.net

mdrihi@suddenlink.Net

304-482-0039

Thanks to Big Sandy Superstore in Parkersburg for letting us use its store.