{"id":3615,"date":"2013-11-01T11:00:16","date_gmt":"2013-11-01T15:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/?p=3615"},"modified":"2015-02-13T17:22:58","modified_gmt":"2015-02-13T22:22:58","slug":"chimney-sweep-and-dryer-vent-cleaning-two-easy-ways-to-prevent-home-fires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/chimney-sweep-and-dryer-vent-cleaning-two-easy-ways-to-prevent-home-fires\/","title":{"rendered":"Chimney Sweep and Dryer Vent Cleaning: Two Easy Ways to Prevent Home Fires"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chimney and dryer vent fires — two leading causes of home disasters — are actually easy to prevent with regular maintenance including a chimney sweep and dryer vent cleaning.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 According to the National Fire Prevention Association<\/a>, fires in chimney flues and laundry rooms account for 6% and 4% of all household fires, respectively.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 And although kitchen fires are much more common (resulting in 42% or all home fires), the scary thing about chimney and dryer vent fires is they often go unnoticed until the fire is burning out of control<\/b>, resulting in major structural damage, destroyed homes, injuries and death.\"Fires<\/a><\/p>\n

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What Causes Chimney Fires?<\/em><\/h2>\n

Chimney fires are caused by dirty chimneys<\/b>. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Chimneys are designed to safely expel the by-products produced when wood is burned, \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0such as smoke, water vapor and gases. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0However, the residue that remains \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 a tar-like substance called creosote \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 sticks to the inner walls of the chimney and is highly <\/b>combustible<\/b>.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 If the creosote builds up in sufficient quantities and the internal temperature of your chimney flue gets hot enough, the result could be a chimney fire<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Photo: \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Chimney Safety Institute of America<\/em><\/p>\n

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What Causes Dryer Vent Fires?<\/em><\/h2>\n

Clothes dryer vent fires are caused by a build-up of lint<\/b> in crevices deep down inside the lint filter trap and all along the dryer vent hose. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Lint is formed as water is removed from clothing during the drying process.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Excessive lint builds up slowly and gradually.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Cleaning out the lint trap inside<\/i> the dryer after each use will help prevent problems.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 However, fires can occur when there is a build-up of lint in the dryer vent hose<\/b> that blocks the flow of air and results in excessive heat<\/b>.<\/p>\n

A special meter can be used to monitor backpressure in the vent<\/a> that happens when there is a build-up of lint.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 You can also watch for these warning signs that your dryer vent hose may be clogged<\/b> with lint:\"LintGard<\/a><\/p>\n