Do you leave your clothes dryer on when you're not home

[DisneyMim]

Had to post on this one. Years ago my Aunt's dryer started a fire in their house. She was home, noticed it, called the fire dept. and everything was fine. As you can imagine this has always stayed with me even though it was years ago and some people have told me that dryers are safer now. I never leave my dryer on when I'm not home. Sometimes this can be a pain, but it really scares me.

 

[nkjzmom]

We learned how to start a fire with dryer lint and two D batteries....so yes it is extremely flammable. But unfortunately I have left it on while gone...say to pick kids up from school, and when going to bed. I know I shouldn't....I will definitely rethink this.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you have a plastic dryer vent hose, you might also want to replace it with a metal vent hose. Just as easy to install, but doesn't burn as easily as the plastic one.

 

[tiggerlover]

Always turn it off! Growing up my neighbor left her dryer on while she ran a short errand and came home to a house that was on fire.

It is better to be safe than sorry.

 

[fireplug]

Skuttle , we have responded to 4 dryer fire in the last 2 years. While it may not be dangerous if something does go wrong if you are there you can turn the dryer off. I make sure ours is off when I leave home. So does my DW.

Steve

 

[Jeepers Lady]

I have to add that being married to a firefighter is a good thing -- he watches out for us

 

[chelsea&austinsmom]

Dh is a fire fighter and we don't turn the dryer on unless we are home. He's seen to many house fires caused by dryers, and people not cleaning there lint out after everyone load. Just a reminder clean those lint trays out after each load.

 

[NancyIL]

Yep - I always turn it off. We have a gas dryer, and even though I keep the lint trap clean, every now and then I have to unplug it, remove the bottom panel, and vacuum out LOTS of lint from underneath the dryer.

 

[dizneenut]

I use to leave it on, but now I always turn it off!

 

[Verandah Man]

Always! Always! Always! turn it off before you leave the house, or before you go to bed!

We lost a friend of the family (a firefighter) who respoded to a house fire on New Year's Eve two years ago due to someone leaving their dryer on and went out to celebrate the New Year coming in.

The firefighter, thinking the family was inside, went in the house to rescue them, and the kitchen floor caved in under him, sending him into the basement. It took over 30 minutes before he could be rescued. He had 3rd degree burns over 80% of his body. He was rushed to the local burn center where he died 3 months later.

This is what I label a HERO, and someone our children should be looking up to.

 

[Boots]

Turn it off. We know someone whose dryer caught on fire. So I just turn it off.

 

[mum4jenn]

I have a new dryer,always clean the lint out and IF I have to leave the house while I am drying clothes I leave the dryer running. Never really thought about.

 

[Kermit]

I always turn it off. I used to leave things running, but then a few years ago we left the dishwasher on and flooded the kitchen floor when a pipe under the sink broke.

You should also keep the laundry room door shut, if you have one. I know of a family who lost their house due to a dryer fire, but the reason they were able to get out of the house on time is because the fire took a while to get out of the laundry room. If the door had been open, they might not have made it.

 

[browneyes]

Sometimes. Most of the time, I run them in the dryer late at night-while we're all here.

 

[Nutsy]

When I have to use mine (which is rare) I always turn it off before leaving the house. Who knows what could happen while you're gone.

 

[Rajah]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for posting this thread! I *always* turn the dryer off before leaving the house, but DH would always leave it on. His standard practice apparently was to throw a load of laundry in to dry before leaving for work. I found out about that a couple of days ago when I was home sick and we had a talk about it. He brushed me off saying it wasn't that dangerous. Having this post and all the people on it who either have had fires or known people who had fires due to dryers was enough to convince him that he will no longer leave the dryer going while he's out. THANK YOU SO MUCH! He would NOT listen to just me on this issue. He did, thankfully, listen to the DIS.

 

[p-nut]

My DH is a Fire inspector. Was a firefighter?chief with the military for the last twenty years. He will not let me leave anything plugged in or running when we are not at home. I cannot use a crock pot unless I am home. We will NEVER own a coffee pot with a timer on it because they are prone to short out and start fires. My DH has seen it all. He drives me crazy with it.