The CBC estimates that approximately 15,000 fires are caused each year by lint buildup in dryers, which translates to about 40 dryer fires – in one year – in a city the size of Toronto.  It’s remarkably simple to prevent a possibly catastrophic blaze, and that is to clean out the easily accessible lint trap each time you use the dryer plus have a professional clean out your dryer ducts each year.

There are often warning signs prior to an actual blaze, so be aware of the following:

• Your clothing and / or the outside of the dryer is unusually hot after use.
• You notice a burning or electrical smell during / after use.
• It takes longer for your clothes to dry.

Many people like to run appliances when they leave the house or after they go to bed, but this is a very risky thing to do because if a fire does start, it could reach catastrophic levels before it is detected and contained.  The same goes for choosing to run a dishwasher or washing machine without supervision as this could result in a significant flooding situation.  Household appliances offer us a world of convenience, but we cannot forget that many are high heat producing, water containing, electrical instruments that can malfunction and cause a great deal of damage.  Keeping your eyes open and offering them regular preventative maintenance will save not only money, but possibly lives.