Category: Dryer & Appliance Safety

Prevent Dryer Fires: Key Maintenance Tips for Safety

Dryer Lint: A Hidden Fire Hazard You Shouldn’t Ignore

A large clump of lint rests on a tiled floor in the corner of a laundry room. This hidden buildup was removed during a professional dryer cleaning arranged by AJR Public Adjusters to highlight the serious fire risks associated with neglected dryer maintenance.
This large clump of lint was pulled from a dryer during a professional cleaning arranged by AJR Public Adjusters. It’s a powerful reminder of the hidden fire hazards that can accumulate over time without regular maintenance.

At AJR Public Adjusters, we’ve helped countless homeowners recover from devastating fire losses—and more often than you’d think, those fires started in a laundry room.

Most people are good about clearing the small lint tray after each load. But what’s often forgotten is that lint doesn’t just stop there. It builds up inside the dryer and along the dryer vent ductwork that snakes through the walls and out of your home. That hidden buildup is a real fire risk.

A large pile of lint sits on the floor next to a removed dryer panel and lint screen, collected during a professional dryer cleaning arranged by AJR Public Adjusters. The image highlights the volume of hidden lint buildup that can pose a serious fire hazard if not properly addressed.
This pile of lint was removed from inside a dryer during a cleaning coordinated by AJR Public Adjusters. It’s a clear example of how much hidden debris can accumulate over time—posing a major fire risk if not addressed through regular professional maintenance.

We’re sharing this today because we just had our own dryer serviced, and we were shocked by how much lint had accumulated. Not only did our technician pull out two large clumps like the ones shown in the photos, but we had already emptied two full Dustbuster containers of lint into the trash before taking the pictures. That’s how much had collected out of sight.

Our yearly tip: Have your dryer professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year.

Here’s what we recommend:

  • Continue cleaning the lint tray after every load.
  • Have a professional disassemble your dryer annually to remove internal lint buildup.
  • Hire a qualified vent cleaning service to clear out the ducts that carry lint from the dryer to the outside of your home.

This isn’t just a suggestion. It’s an important safety measure. Dryer fires are preventable, and we’ve seen firsthand how much damage they can cause.

If you need a referral to someone reliable, feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to connect you with trusted professionals who do thorough, honest work.

Stay safe and stay alert. One small step now can prevent a major loss later.

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AJR Public Adjusters
Serving homeowners for over 37 years, with deep roots in Arizona for the past 12.