Lint-filled dryer ducts cause about 4,500 home fires per year and manufacturers have been trying to solve the problem with built-in features that detect blockages. But when we tested the lint-detector indicators the results were too inconsistent to count on. Lint Alert, a $40 add-on, claims it can do better.
A pressure sensor that you install in clean dryer ductwork, Lint Alert promises to "monitor and detect lint buildup in your dryer duct." When it senses poor airflow, an alarm sounds. So, did it work? It did and it could be worth buying for extra safety. But because of the potentially catastrophic effects of a dryer fire, you should still clean the dryer duct periodically.
In fact, you should always keep your laundry equipment clean especially in the winter months when laundry room fires peak. About one-third of the nearly 18,000 fires that start in laundry rooms each year are due to the failure to clean one of the appliances, according to the National Fire Prevention Agency. Here's some advice from the experts at the NFPA, Consumer Reports and RepairClinic.com.
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