Common Causes for House Fires
What’s one of the biggest causes for a house fire? How about commercial fires? The answer is actually very simple: clogged air ducts. Commercial buildings, residential and industrial building are particularly susceptible to these problems due to the amount of equipment that runs inside them and the large volumes of air they move on a regular basis. Even in your own home, if you haven’t cleaned your homes air or dryer vents recently, you’ll want to contact a specialist today for help. If you want to learn more about Dryer Vent cleaning in Blaine MN, reach out to Clean Air Restoration today for help!
Dryer Vents
Dryers can start fires when lint backs up into the venting system. If you never clean your dryer sheet before loads, it can build up lint and other organic materials, which can pose a fire risk. Even if you eventually clean out your dryer sheet after a dozen or so loads, the build up of materials has at this point overflowed into your vents, where it will be much harder to clean. Even for those of us who clean our dryer sheet each time we do laundry, sometimes we run loads (such as washing our bedding) that are larger or more dirty than normal, and these can produce so much lint and fluff that it, again, overflows into your dryer’s vent system. When this happens, it can block vents and cause fires.
To keep your dryer safe, you should clean out the vent at least once a year. In order to keep your dryer in pristine condition, you should hire a professional duct cleaner to remove buildup from your home’s dryer vents. They’ll make sure to restore your home without damaging it in the process, as your own inexperience might have led you to do if you attempted to clean your vent yourself. You can also prevent fires by being sure that your dryer’s lint filter is clean at all times.
Your HVAC system
Your HVAC system is also at risk of fire, but it’s much easier to prevent this than it is to clean out the dryer vent. Your HVAC system relies on a ductwork system made up of metal pipes and hoses that carry heated or cooled air throughout your home. When these components get clogged with lint and dirt, they can overheat and start fires. Especially now when all of us start our heat up again before winter hits, the risk for home fires is higher than ever.
Your HVAC system is also at risk of causing fires from poor or faulty filters. If you don’t change your filters regularly, they can become clogged with lint and dust. This prevents the airflow from your HVAC system from being as efficient as possible. When this happens, it puts more stress on the system’s components and increases the chance of them overheating or catching fire.
Clean your air ducts
While servicing your HVAC unit, you should also be sure to clean your home’s air ducts. This will help prevent dust and debris from circulating throughout your home. It’s important to hire a professional for this job, as they’ll have the tools and expertise necessary to get into all of those hard-to-reach places. If you’ve never cleaned your air ducts before, it may take several hours and require more than one visit. Once again, to keep your home safe it’s smart to schedule a yearly duct cleaning with a vent specialist. They can make sure that your home’s vents aren’t just clean of dust and debris, but larger issues like mold or mildew.
Cooking
While we like to think that only kids or bad cooks can cause house fires while cooking, the truth is that any of us can. It’s important to keep an eye on the stove, especially when you’re cooking something that requires high heat or is prone to burning. It’s also wise to be sure that your kitchen is well-ventilated and your smoke alarms are working properly. Fire Damage Reconstruction can be costly, but the greater cost is the loss of any sentimental items that you can’t always restore in your home. If you have a fire in your home, it’s important to contact an experienced restoration contractor right away. You can usually tell if a fire has caused damage by looking at the walls, ceiling and floor of each room where smoke was present—if there are burn marks or discoloration, your property may need extensive repair work.
At Clean Air Restoration, we’d be happy to help you with any of your needs. Our services include: Air Duct Cleaning, Dryer Vent Cleaning, Clean Air Continued Care, Water Damage Restoration, Mold Remediation, Fire Damage Reconstruction, Sewage Removal Services, and More! We recommend calling us today at 612-441-2230 for more information about how we can help!