A particularly risky electrical appliance requires simple precautions to prevent it from causing a fire in the home.
Every year in France, domestic fires cause terrible tragedies. A poorly extinguished cigarette, a poorly monitored barbecue or even a spilled candle can cause fires to start. However, according to the National Center for Prevention and Protection (CNPP), 25 to 30% of fires are of electrical origin and among household appliances, it seems that one of them represents a particularly significant danger…
Indeed, an experienced firefighter revealed to our editorial staff that, according to his professional experience, it is neither the oven nor the iron that are most often involved in starting fires in private homes, but indeed the dryer.
Although no precise official statistics exist on this subject, this revelation is supported by the Fondation des Brûlés. On its website, the organization places the tumble dryer “in first place among electrical appliances likely to cause a fire.” This dangerousness can be explained by several characteristics specific to the operation of this device.
The fire danger from the dryer is mainly due to the accumulation of heat and dust inside the dryer. As the Fondation des Brûlés specifies, “hot air associated with dust constitutes an ‘ideal’ mixture” to cause a fire. A lack of maintenance can therefore be blamed. The foundation recommends cleaning the air exhaust duct at least once a year.
The company Verisure, which specializes in alarm systems with remote monitoring, also claims that the dryer is the electrical appliance most frequently involved in domestic fires. She provides other recommendations to prevent them. According to Verisure, it is necessary to leave enough space around the dryer so as not to hinder its ventilation, to clean the lint filter thoroughly after each use, not to dry clothes with traces of flammable substances, to place dryer on a clean floor and vacuum around the appliance regularly. Installing a smoke detector nearby is also recommended.
In addition, a simple habit mentioned by both the firefighter and the Fondation des Brûlés is to avoid running your dryer in your absence. Verisure adds that you should also avoid spinning it while you sleep. Indeed, during a fire, it is not the flames but the smoke that are the most deadly. They are responsible for 80% of deaths.
Beyond the specific case of tumble dryers, it is crucial to emphasize that obsolete appliances and electrical installations that do not comply with manufacturers' standards increase the risk of fire. Connections to power strips are not always suitable, in particular they are not suitable for devices that generate heat. It is obvious that a tumble dryer is already at risk, it is even more so if it is poorly maintained and plugged into a power strip.
