The number one cause of dryer fires is an excessive build up of lint. So, how can you possibly know when your dryer is becoming dangerous? Signs you may need dryer vent cleaning include:

• loads of laundry taking longer to dry
  
• clothes not being fully dry after a normal cycle
  
• clothes being hotter than usual after a drying cycle
   
• condensation on the vent pipe

  Some simple maintenance can greatly reduce the likelihood of you suffering the devastation of a dryer fire. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides the following recommendations to help maintain a safe dryer vent.

  • Continually clean the lint from the vent pipe
    
  • Do not operate the dryer without a lint filter
    
  • Clean the lint filter before or after each use
    
  • Rigid or flexible metal vent pipe should be used (no vinyl)
    
  • Avoid overloading the dryer
    
  • Make sure the exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outside vent pipe will open when the dryer is operating