St. Louis Lint Trap Kit a Fire Hazard

ST. LOUIS, MO — The clothes dryer is a covenient alternative to line drying clothes, but the appliance can be a fire hazard and pose a serious threat to indoor air quality when improperly installed or maintained.

Energy Doctor Chad Kues of Dr. Energy Saver St. Louis came across a defective lint trap kit while performing a home energy audit in St. Louis. 

"In the basement, we noticed the lint trap was not being vented to the outside," said Kues.  "Instead, the clothes dryer was vented to a lint trap kit inside the basement laundry room. "Everything in the basement—the ductwork, the rim joist, the ceiling—was covered in lint."

Kues considers this an absolute fire hazard with the combustion appliances just ten feet from the lint trap that unfortunately is not working properly.

According to a 2007 report from the U.S. Fire Administration, clothes dryer fires account for about 15,600 structure fires, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries annually.  The report also noted that 80% of clothes dryer fires in structures occur in residential buildings.

Builder's Best, one manufacturer of venting systems, comments on the matter.

"Venting your dryer to the outside is imperative!" reports Builder's Best. "Indoor venting systems, such as lint trap kits are generally inadequate to handle lint accumulation. They must be cleaned constantly and if they are not, they pose a fire hazard."

The lingering lint dust can also be an allergen hazard.  Venting into the attic, basement, or crawl space can reduce indoor air quality and encourage mold buildup.  In this case, lint dust was also drawn into the air duct return on the HVAC unit and distributed throughout the home.

By discovering where each home is using, losing, and wasting energy, Dr. Energy Saver St. Louis can provide solutions for homeowners to stop wasting energy and start saving money. 

Homeowners looking to make their home more healthy, energy efficient, and comfortable can contact Dr. Energy Saver St. Louis at 1-866-627-6475 and schedule a complete home energy checkup with Dr. Chad Kues.