Foam pillow exploded in the dryer - fire risk?
April 3, 2023 10:31 AM Subscribe
I accidentally put a shredded memory foam pillow (like this one) in my dryer. It exploded and now my dryer and lint trap are full of foam scraps. How much of a fire risk is there?
I'm going to disassemble my dryer as much as possible to pick out any foam that has collected in places that aren't the clothes drum, but no doubt there is foam in places that I can't see or remove. It's a gas dryer if it makes any difference.
I'm going to disassemble my dryer as much as possible to pick out any foam that has collected in places that aren't the clothes drum, but no doubt there is foam in places that I can't see or remove. It's a gas dryer if it makes any difference.
I know you are probably feeling miserable from the mistake, but replacing dryer is less expensive than home fire. You can have it professionally inspected, but I’m sure that is $100 for them to tell you to discard the dryer.
posted by gryphonlover at 11:55 AM on April 3, 2023
posted by gryphonlover at 11:55 AM on April 3, 2023
I once tried to burn a foam sofa cushion on an outdoor bonfire. It exploded and caught my lawn on fire. I would consider your situation to be a serious fire hazard.
posted by LaBellaStella at 11:57 AM on April 3, 2023
posted by LaBellaStella at 11:57 AM on April 3, 2023
I can't imagine this is a problem. Clean the lint trap out and, if there's foam in the dryer, vacuum it. A dryer isn't an endless labyrinth of passages filled with incandescently hot air. Also a dryer is made to trap lint, and I bet it can deal with a bit of foam. That's why it has a lint trap.
If you're worried, put a load in, or run it empty and see if the air comes out at a reasonable speed.
You've done in a day what people do to a dryer in months. This is what they're made for.
I wouldn't give this a second thought.
posted by AugustusCrunch at 6:18 PM on April 3, 2023
If you're worried, put a load in, or run it empty and see if the air comes out at a reasonable speed.
You've done in a day what people do to a dryer in months. This is what they're made for.
I wouldn't give this a second thought.
posted by AugustusCrunch at 6:18 PM on April 3, 2023
Whatever you decide to do with the dryer (I’d probably toss it, there’s no way I’d ever trust it not to set the house on fire) remember to ALSO have your exterior dryer vent cleaned! You can do this yourself or hire professionals.
posted by lydhre at 2:29 AM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by lydhre at 2:29 AM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think you will be surprised when you open it up and see all the places where foam will be. I recently had my drier repaired and was floored at the amount of lint that got out of the filter and drum and was just chilling in the body of the drier. At the very least, have a professional come to take it apart and clean it and definitely trash it if the situation seems beyond repair.
posted by pearlybob at 2:36 AM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by pearlybob at 2:36 AM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Lint is flammable and your dryer has been covered in it all along. Anywhere the foam could have gotten, so could the lint have and it's been fine. Empty the trap and move along with your life.
Check the vent pipe though, but not because of this, just because you should periodically.
posted by flimflam at 10:54 AM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Check the vent pipe though, but not because of this, just because you should periodically.
posted by flimflam at 10:54 AM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Agreeing with AugustusCrunch and flimflam. Removing the foam is an approachable task for an entry-level DIY homeowner. Just to be sure that you've removed any and all the foam particles. This is a good time to remove all the lint accumulated over the years too. Vacuum the following areas:
1) lint trap area
a) clean the lint screen with vacuum and brush attachment or clean with a brush and soapy water.
b) There might be a plastic grid in front of the lint screen. Remove (unscrew) the plastic grid in front of the screen
c) shove your vacuum with crevice attachment as far as it will go in the area
2) inside dryer area.
a) Disconnect the dryer from its outlet duct. You might have to use a screwdriver here too. Since the lint trap area is open, place a flashlight in the lint trap hole and turn it on.
b) pull out any accumulated lint you see from the dryer outlet hole. If you can't see the flashlight's light, you've got a lot of accumulation to remove. Finish up with your vacuum and its extension nozzle. Extra credit: use a dish brush or your vacuum's brush attachment to fully dislodge any lint or foam particles and then vacuum. Lint and particles will accumulate in the corners.
3) outlet duct per flimflam's second paragraph. Keep the dryer disconnected from the outlet duct
a) shove your vacuum and extension nozzle to the first bend/bend closest to the dryer
b) if you've got a corrugated duct, disconnect it from the upper end/outside. Shine a flashlight and look for accumulation and vacuum.
If you've got a corrugated plastic (either silver-y or white) dryer duct, this a good time to consider replacing it with hard metal duct. The pieces pressure fit together and is an easy DIY project and might need a hacksaw and measuring tape. The corrugated ones are a fire hazard because they readily trap lint. If you need to cut the duct, go slow with the hacksaw to make the cut is straight.
posted by dlwr300 at 12:04 PM on April 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
1) lint trap area
a) clean the lint screen with vacuum and brush attachment or clean with a brush and soapy water.
b) There might be a plastic grid in front of the lint screen. Remove (unscrew) the plastic grid in front of the screen
c) shove your vacuum with crevice attachment as far as it will go in the area
2) inside dryer area.
a) Disconnect the dryer from its outlet duct. You might have to use a screwdriver here too. Since the lint trap area is open, place a flashlight in the lint trap hole and turn it on.
b) pull out any accumulated lint you see from the dryer outlet hole. If you can't see the flashlight's light, you've got a lot of accumulation to remove. Finish up with your vacuum and its extension nozzle. Extra credit: use a dish brush or your vacuum's brush attachment to fully dislodge any lint or foam particles and then vacuum. Lint and particles will accumulate in the corners.
3) outlet duct per flimflam's second paragraph. Keep the dryer disconnected from the outlet duct
a) shove your vacuum and extension nozzle to the first bend/bend closest to the dryer
b) if you've got a corrugated duct, disconnect it from the upper end/outside. Shine a flashlight and look for accumulation and vacuum.
If you've got a corrugated plastic (either silver-y or white) dryer duct, this a good time to consider replacing it with hard metal duct. The pieces pressure fit together and is an easy DIY project and might need a hacksaw and measuring tape. The corrugated ones are a fire hazard because they readily trap lint. If you need to cut the duct, go slow with the hacksaw to make the cut is straight.
posted by dlwr300 at 12:04 PM on April 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Clean out your external dryer venting-the outside vent as well as all the ducting that runs from the back of your dryer to the outside of your house. That's where the biggest fire hazard is, regardless whether it's clothes lint or the much denser and thicker foam from a pillow (which will fill up the external lint vent much faster than clothes lint).
Source: My newly purchased house caught on fire from years of buildup of lint in the external dryer venting. They're like arteries. When there's a buildup, not only does your dryer take longer to dry your clothes, but your risk of fire increases.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 1:18 PM on April 4, 2023
Source: My newly purchased house caught on fire from years of buildup of lint in the external dryer venting. They're like arteries. When there's a buildup, not only does your dryer take longer to dry your clothes, but your risk of fire increases.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 1:18 PM on April 4, 2023
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posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:01 AM on April 3, 2023