Intro
Ever wondered, do electric clothes dryers make carbon monoxide? It’s not a question you may have thought of but it’s an important one for your home’s safety. Electric dryers are generally safe but understanding the risks can help you avoid the hidden dangers. In this post we’ll get into the facts about carbon monoxide and electric dryers and what you need to know to protect your family and home.
Summary / TL;DR: Electric clothes dryers don’t make carbon monoxide. But knowing this helps you know other safety issues. Read on!
Electric Dryers and Carbon Monoxide: Is This A Problem?
In this energy conscious world, safety and efficiency are both important. Many people think electrical dryers pose an underlying risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide (CO) can be toxic if inhaled in large amounts and can be fatal. Let’s get into all this and let’s clear it up so you don’t have to worry about it affecting your dry clothes either.
What Is Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a gas you can’t see or smell but it can be very dangerous if you inhale it. It’s made when things like wood, charcoal, propane or gasoline burn. It can build up in areas with poor airflow or small spaces and can be harmful. It’s important to know carbon monoxide so you can keep your home safe and avoid health issues. Knowing how it works helps you take the right steps to protect yourself and your family.
Dryer Safety and Carbon Monoxide Risks
Electric dryers don’t make carbon monoxide.
But gas dryers can produce carbon monoxide if hot air is not vented properly. This toxic gas can build up in enclosed spaces and be life threatening.
A blocked, damaged or improperly installed vent can trap carbon dioxide and thus create carbon monoxide and be a health and safety hazard.
Clean the lint trap and exhaust vent regularly and check for any signs of damage to prevent blockages and lint buildup and ensure proper ventilation.
Make sure the gas line to the dryer’s venting system is clear, installed properly and functioning well to prevent carbon monoxide buildup and overall safety.
Do Dryers Make Carbon Monoxide?
Dryers remove moisture from wet clothes. Modern ones are powered by electrical equipment and you can rest easy knowing there’s nothing making carbon monoxide even when the new dryer machine is running. But the air in the electric dryer exhaust can still produce carbon monoxide. Proper gas dryers are designed to remove gas out of the outlet before it reaches dangerous levels in your home. Underworked and poorly maintained gas dryers can clog or crack and trap CO at a point where it can be a hazard to the environment.
Can You Get Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From An Electric Dryer?
Electric dryers don’t make carbon monoxide so they can’t cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning only happens with appliances that burn gas like gas dryers, furnaces or stoves. Electric dryers run on electricity and don’t produce this toxic gas. So they’re not a source of carbon monoxide. For peace of mind it’s always good to have some carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home but you don’t have to worry about electric dryers contributing to that risk.
Gas Dryers: Carbon Monoxide Risks
Post by Kokawaburra » Wed Jun 08 2022 1:21pm I’m looking for dryers: Gas or Electric. Gas might be cheaper in the long run but the major concern with gas is carbon monoxide risks. Tell me what’s the most important thing for anyone who knows about Gas Dryer: Is there air in any of these dryers? Does heat have thermal separation during combustion processes? How can we prevent CO from entering the clothes when burning?
What To Do To Make My Dryer Safe?
Don’t overload the washer as it wears and tears. But you may have to do the following: clean the dryer vents. Dryer vent exhausts collect dirt and debris that can cause fire. A dryer vent clean removes dirt from the already clogged dryer vent by clearing the lint that passes through the the lint filter and trap. Moisture accumulation can cause overheating and the wet fibers will spark and catch fire.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning only happens with gas appliances like gas dryers and furnaces. Electric dryers don’t make this gas so they can’t cause poisoning.
To protect yourself put a carbon monoxide detector in your home. This will alert you if the gas levels in electric home get too high.
Get your gas appliances inspected and serviced regularly. This will find and fix any problems that can cause CO to build up. Keeping your appliances in good condition is key to being safe.
Gas Dryer Safety Tips
Gas dryers use natural gas or propane with combustion process that produces carbon monoxide as byproduct of complete combustion. This gas can mix with the air in the dryer drum and get onto clothes before being vented out.
There’s a small chance of CO getting “baked” into your clothes but it’s not clear how serious this risk is.
To be safe install carbon monoxide detectors in your home. They will alert you if there’s dangerous levels of the gas. Keeping your dryer well maintained reduces risks and keeps other appliances in your home safe.
Safety for Peace of Mind
Although electric dryers don’t produce any carbon monoxide emissions, focus on general safety. Keep your dryer well maintained and well ventilated.
Check your dryer regularly to make sure it’s working and safe. Be aware of tumble dryer safety tips and always be mindful of carbon monoxide.
By doing so you can enjoy your laundry room with peace of mind knowing your dryer’s vent is safe and only leaves behind the fresh smell of clean clothes.
Summary
So, do electric clothes dryers produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide? The short answer is no. Electric dryers are free from carbon monoxide risks of gas appliances. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore carbon monoxide awareness and dryer safety altogether. Keeping your dryer in good condition with regular maintenance and proper ventilation is key to making it safe and efficient.
Be informed about all things dryer safety to keep tumble dryers, your household appliances, home and family safe. By doing so you can enjoy your dryer worry free. If you have more questions or need tips on how to maintain your dryer check out our blog.