Dryer Fire Causes, Trends, and Safety Measures

From 2014 to 2018, local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 13,820 home structure fires annually where clothes dryers were involved in ignition, according to a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) study. The same study found that dryer-related fires caused an average of $233 million in direct property damage annually. To prepare for fire claims in which the dryer is the culprit, adjusters should take time to understand the causes of these events, along with safety measures they can pass on to their policyholders.

What Causes Dryer Fires?

Though convenient, dryers can pose serious fire risks, particularly now that more new homes are moving laundry setups to closets and laundry rooms inside bedrooms instead of basements. Dryers that are located farther from exterior walls require longer venting. Any bend or sudden turn in these vents can become a space for lint to accumulate over time. Lint is one of the biggest causes of dryer fires, along with mechanical or electrical malfunctions, and chemical stains.

Lint Buildup and Improper Dryer Use

Lint consists of tiny fibers from yarn and fabric (commonly referred to as microfibers) that shed from clothing as it is dried. These extremely flammable fibers build up in clothes dryers’ lint filters, and sometimes in outside vents, stifling the flow of air.

Because of lint’s flammable properties, not cleaning lint filters can prove dangerous. According to the study from NFPA, 32% of dryer fires were caused by a “failure to clean,” with 27% of dryer fires starting when “dust, fiber, or lint ignited.”

National Fire Experts (NFE) investigators determined that this clothes dryer was the point of origin for a fire, and that the first fuel ignited was lint.

How Can Your Policyholders Prevent Lint Dryer Fires?

While cleaning lint filters after every load is a large precaution your policyholders should take to prevent dryer fires, the NFPA provides even more proactive dryer safety tips. The NFPA:

• Cautions against using a dryer without a lint filter
• States that dryers should be installed and serviced by professionals (particularly to verify that gas dryers are connected to gas lines without leaks)
• Recommends that lint be cleaned out of vent pipes at least once a year
• Stresses the importance of ensuring dryers are connected correctly using the proper plug and outlet
• Notes that vent systems should be made from rigid or flexible metal that enables airflow
• And says exhaust vent pipes should also be unrestricted so that vent flaps are open when dryers are in use.

Policyholders should also make sure they are using their clothes dryers as intended by reading and adhering to manufacturers’ manuals. Common mistakes that could lead to trouble include, but aren’t limited to, overloading the dryer, leaving the dryer on while away from home or asleep, putting items in the dryer that are not meant to be dried (such as rubber, plastic, or foam), and leaving items strewn around the dryer.

Mechanical or Electrical Malfunctions

While lint buildup and failure to clean are the leading dryer fire causes, mechanical malfunctions are not far behind. The NFPA report notes that 27% of dryer fires were a result of mechanical failure or malfunction. These issues could stem from any number of component failures, so product failure testing may be required to pinpoint the exact cause and help identify whether there is subrogation potential in these types of fire claims. Licensed forensic engineers can supplement fire investigations to identify whether a dryer’s component failure signals a manufacturer defect or is unrelated.

Electrical failure or malfunction is listed in the NFPA study as being responsible for 16% of dryer fires. These could be a result of faulty wiring and underscore the need for policyholders to have their dryers properly installed and maintained. Product failure testing may also be necessary in cases of electrical failure since installation errors (such as incorrectly installed power cords or improper venting) or manufacturer defects may have occurred. Testing could also determine if negligent maintenance or repair work by a third-party technician or maintenance contractor led to the failure. By using the scientific method and advanced equipment, objective product testing can detect the cause of failure to help adjusters decide what to do next.

A probable unspecified failure of the motor in this gas dryer was the ignition source for a fire investigated by NFE.

Chemical Stains

Though they account for fewer fire events, chemical stains are a dryer fire cause that should not be taken lightly. Danger can be lurking in commonplace flammable substances, like gas, cleaning agents, and even vegetable oil. It’s recommended that any clothing with stains of this kind be hung up to dry the old-fashioned way, rather than being placed in a dryer. Take care to make sure articles of clothing with these substances are not piled on top of each other while awaiting washing or air drying either; when piled on top of one another, oily cloth can catch fire, even when not inside a dryer, via a phenomenon called “spontaneous combustion.”

 The charred cloth shown in this dryer was identified by investigators as the first fuel ignited in a townhome fire.

How Can You Identify a Dryer Fire?

It’s critical that you approach all fire claims carefully, and with all the facts. Although the cause of a fire may seem readily apparent, it’s important keep in mind that confirmation bias can inhibit a claim by leading to inaccurate conclusions.

Even if you suspect that a dryer was the point of origin in a fire claim, it may not be clear what factor(s) caused the dryer to catch fire. That’s why it’s important to rely on expert investigators for dryer-related fire claims. With hundreds of years of combined experience, investigators at National Fire Experts (NFE) adhere to the NFPA’s guidelines and standards to evaluate the evidence from any fire scene to provide an actionable, top-of-class report. They can also get expert support from Donan’s Component Testing Laboratory (CTL) for product failure testing by forensic engineers.

While neither NFE fire investigators nor CTL engineers will ultimately weigh in on whether carriers should pursue subrogation, each can provide relevant facts related to manufacturer defects, including recalls and faulty components; appliance installation concerns; or negligence of maintenance and repair either by the policyholder or a third-party technician. From there, carriers can make confident decisions about handling the claim or pursuing subrogation. Submit an assignment to get the insights you need to make informed fire claim decisions.

Alpine Intel’s content is meant to inform and educate readers using general terms and descriptions. They do not replace expert evaluations that determine facts and details related to each unique claim.