Potential fire and explosion risk from clothes dryers

Clothes dryers and drying cabinets are useful devices used by many people, especially on rainy or humid days. However, there are many types of dryers with poor quality and people's carelessness in using them, making this type of machine also pose a high risk of fire and explosion.

There are many types of drying cabinets and clothes dryers on the market.

The demand of people is increasing, so the establishments selling drying cabinets and clothes dryers also import a variety of models, types and prices, with low, medium and high prices for each type. Many stores also mix high quality and low quality products to increase profits.

“Currently, there are many types of drying cabinets on the market with prices ranging from 1.1 to 2.5 million VND/unit. Meanwhile, there are many cabinets that are floating goods without origin, warranty or instructions for use. This is dangerous for customers if the machine has problems, at least it can damage clothes and at worst it can lead to a short circuit and fire” - Mr. Nguyen Tien Cuong, an experienced electrician in Tich Son ward, Vinh Yen city shared.

In fact, many customers, due to not researching carefully and choosing to buy from unreliable establishments, have suffered the fate of "losing money and getting sick", the product has not been used for long but has been damaged or not achieved high efficiency when used.

Poor quality machinery combined with people's carelessness are potential risks leading to many fires and explosions if electrical equipment is used improperly. According to statistics from the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department in February 2024, 240/449 fires were investigated to clarify the cause, of which fires caused by system and electrical equipment failures accounted for the highest rate with 169 cases, accounting for 70.4%.

It can be affirmed that fires and explosions from clothes dryers not only cause property damage but can also endanger human health and life. Therefore, to ensure the safety of your family and yourself, it is necessary to clearly understand the causes, prevention methods and solutions when encountering incidents related to fires and explosions from dryers and clothes drying cabinets.

Poor quality machines combined with carelessness in usage are the causes of clothes dryer fires and explosions.

There are many causes of fires and explosions from clothes dryers, the most common of which is that the machine is not cleaned regularly, causing blockages in the ventilation system, increasing the temperature, which can easily lead to fires.

Mechanical and electrical faults such as short circuits, faulty heating elements and old electrical wiring increase the risk of fire, especially in older dryers. Using unsafe items incorrectly, drying rubber or vinyl mats, or stuffing clothes with too many items that obstruct ventilation are also causes of high fire risks. Another cause is forgetting flammable objects in clothes. If you forget a lighter and put it in the dryer, the heat will create a very high risk of fire.”

In order to limit the risk of fire and explosion from electrical equipment in general and clothes dryers in particular, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Huy, a technician at an electronics supermarket in Vinh Yen city, said that people should not buy cheap products of unknown origin because they are very dangerous because they can easily cause short circuits and fires.

In addition to choosing a source of good quality goods, during use, people need to pay attention to some safety measures such as: Keep the machine away from water or fire, do not wash with water but only clean with a damp cloth. Clothes must be wrung dry before being put into the dryer to save electricity and ensure safety, because during use, wrung dry clothes will increase insulation capacity, as well as drying time.

In particular, do not put greasy clothes in the dryer because it will create a reaction that leads to fire. Do not place the machine in a humid environment such as the bathroom, avoid children's play areas and do not place flammable objects nearby. In addition, customers should also choose genuine products to receive warranty and promptly handle any damage that arises during use.

Article and photos: Thieu Vu

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