Doing laundry is most likely part of your every day routine. But did you know how important taking care of your clothes dryer is to the safety of your home?  With a few simple safety tips you can help prevent a clothes dryer fire.

NFPA recommends the following:

• Have your dryer installed by a professional
• Do not use the dryer without a lint filter
• Clean the lint filter before or after each load
• Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time
• Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be checked by a professional to make sure the gas line and connection are in tact and free of leaks
• Follow manufacturer’s instructions and do not overload
• Turn the dryer off when you leave the home or go to bed

Information compiled by Flourtown firefighter Jim Belcher via NFPA