According to the U.S. Fire Administration, almost 3,000 home clothes dryer
fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries and
$35 million in property loss. The agency reports that the leading cause of home
clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them (34%).
In addition to having a clothes dryer professionally installed to prevent
fires, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends that people clean the lint
filter before and after each load of laundry and that they clean the back of
the dryer where lint can build up. Homeowners are also encouraged to clean lint
out of the vent pipe every three months and have the dryer cleaned regularly by
a professional, especially if it is taking longer than normal for clothes to
dry. People also need to be sure to keep the area around the clothes dryer free
of items that could catch on fire.
“Simple preventive maintenance can dramatically reduce the chance of a
clothes dryer fire,” said Tom Allen from Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters,
LLC. “For anyone who does suffer damage from a clothes dryer fire it’s
important that they understand the extent of damage that can occur even from a
small fire. While damage from flames is often obvious, smoke residues from a
small fire can spread throughout a home or building causing costly remediation,
repairs and the necessity to replace sensitive electronics that can succumb to
the corrosive effects of smoke residues.”
Clothes dryer
fire damage and smoke residues are covered by most homeowners and property
insurance policies. Policyholders should consider the services of a licensed
and knowledgeable public adjuster to help them with their insurance claim so
that any damages that are out of sight or caused by smoke residues are not missed
by the insurance company. Insurance companies hope to close claims as quickly
as possible for as little money as possible. The public adjusters at Hudson
Douglas work exclusively for the policyholder to represent only their
interests. This means damages are not overlooked, the property is
comprehensively repaired and smoke damaged electronics are replaced.
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