As it turns out , dryer fires are becoming more commonplace . According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission , there are approximately 16,000 fires each year associated with dryers . Most fires occur when lint builds up in the duct to the point that it reduces airflow . Because lint is highly flammable any overheating of the dryer , a spark , or backup of lint into the dryer can easily ignite it .

Dryer vents should be considered a fire hazard if they haven ’ t been inspected or cleaned within the past year . Condo buildings and apartments are even more at risk due to common walls , poor condo conversion design , and long-lengths of dryer ducting . In the past ten years Southern California has seen a rise in old apartment buildings being converted into condos with washers and dryers .

DRYERS AND FIRES : A Preventable Tragedy

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norm . Surprisingly , most duct cleaning companies are not licensed by the State of California to perform the work . It is highly recommended to use a company that is licensed and certified .

To check a company ’ s license status : Log on to the Contractors State License Board ’ s website ( www . cslb . ca . gov ). Click on “ Consumers ”, then “ Check License ”, then “ Contractor Name ”. Type in name of company in question and see if their company information shows on the list and verify if license status is current . HOA

Christopher Piccione , director of operations for Vent Pros , Inc ., heads a staff of seven well trained , dedicated workers . His 18 years experience began back in 1994 working for a large vent cleaning company in Los Angeles . Through the years he and his staff have cleaned ventilation systems in homes , buildings , hospitals , schools , military bases , jails , yachts , naval ships and even oil rigs .

Chris holds two contractor ’ s licenses with the State of California , one for Duct Cleaning and the other for Heating & Air Conditioning . He has been a NADCA ( National Air Duct Cleaners Assoc .) Certified Ventilation Inspector for 4 years , and an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist for 14 years . He is also a Certified Exhaust Cleaning Specialist with IKECA ( International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaners Assoc .), as well as an EPA Certified Heating & Air Conditioning technician .

Vent Pros , Inc 303 W . 35th Street , # B National City , CA 91950 ( 619 ) 585-4860 ChrisP @ VentPros . com www . VentPros . com

Most condos are quickly built with the laundry closet typically placed in the middle of the condo . While it makes good access for the user , it makes a poor design for routing of the dryer ducting . The longer the duct has to travel from behind the dryer to the exterior of the building , the less airflow it has to vent the heat out and more likelihood of fire . The problem has worsened to the point that in 2003 , the State of California prompted a change in the mechanical code . The code ( section 504.3.2.2 ) now states that the dryer ducting cannot exceed 14 feet in length . This is far stricter than the International Mechanical Code which mandates a 25 foot maximum . Other design flaws include too many turns , incorrect type of ducting , wrong type of vent hoods and wire mesh screens that clog up .

• Clean behind and in the dryer . Have a qualified appliance repairman clean the interior of the dryer itself periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation on electrical components . Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter and chemicals .

• Replace plastic , accordion type hose with rigid or corrugated aluminum . Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated aluminum duct , which provides maximum airflow . Plastic ducting can also melt if the dryer gets too hot .

Here are a few simple tips homeowners can take to reduce their chance of fire :

• Clean the lint screen / filter before or after drying each load of clothes . If clothes are still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal , this may be a sign that the exhaust duct is blocked and needs cleaning .

• Have the Dryer Vent and Exhaust Duct cleaned & inspected annually by a licensed contractor .

• Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline , cooking oils , cleaning agents , or finishing oils and stains . If possible , wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and , preferably , hang the clothes to dry .

In the duct cleaning industry not all companies have the same standards . Whereas , in the electrical , plumbing and other more regulated trades , a contractor ’ s license , schooling and certification is the