Why winter is dryer fire season in New Hampshire

Dryer fires are not spread evenly across the year. A U.S. Fire Administration report on residential clothes dryer fires found they are more common in fall and winter, peaking in January, and that failure to clean is the leading cause, behind 34% of them.

Why winter raises the risk

• More and heavier loads. Sweaters, flannel sheets, blankets and wet outerwear shed more lint and take longer to dry.
• More drying per day. Line-drying outside stops for months.
• Blocked hoods. Snow drifts, ice and frost can cover or freeze the outside flap, especially on low ground-level vents.
• Lint from all year. If the vent was last cleaned a year ago, January is when it is at its worst.

Four things to do this fall

1. Get the vent cleaned before the holidays. It is the simplest step and covers the peak months.
2. Check the outside hood after every storm. Clear snow and ice so the flap can open.
3. Clean the lint screen every load. Wash it with warm soapy water every few months if you use dryer sheets, which leave a film.
4. Do not leave the dryer running when you go out or go to bed.

Seasonal homes on the Seacoast

If your Rye, New Castle or Hampton house sits empty for part of the year, check the vent before you start using the dryer again. Birds and rodents like quiet vent hoods. See signs of a nest in your dryer vent.

Ready for this winter? Book a cleaning for a weekday evening or Saturday.