Heading Out? Turn Off the Dryer First: Why You Should Never Leave a Clothes Dryer Running When No One Is Home

We’ve all done it—or at least been tempted.

You throw a load of towels in the dryer, realize you need to run to the grocery store, and think, It’ll be finished by the time I get back.

It may save a little time, but leaving a clothes dryer running while no one is home is a risk that simply isn’t worth taking.

Clothes dryers combine high temperatures, electricity or natural gas, moving mechanical parts, and highly combustible lint. Most of the time, your dryer completes its cycle without a problem. But when something does go wrong, being home may give you the chance to notice a burning smell, hear an unusual noise, see smoke, or respond to a smoke alarm before a small problem becomes a much larger fire.

How Common Are Clothes Dryer Fires?

Dryer fires aren’t just a theoretical risk.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are approximately 6,400 clothes-dryer fires each year in the United States, causing about 180 injuries and nearly $105 million in property damage annually.

And there’s one especially important takeaway for homeowners: maintenance matters.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean was the leading factor contributing to clothes-dryer fires from 2018–2020, accounting for 31% of these fires.

That makes cleaning your dryer and its vent much more than a housekeeping chore—it’s an important part of protecting your home.

Why Can a Dryer Catch Fire?

1. Lint Is Extremely Combustible

Every time you dry clothing, towels, or bedding, tiny fibers separate from the fabric and become lint.

Your lint screen captures much of it—but not all of it.

Over time, lint can collect inside the dryer, behind the appliance, and throughout the exhaust duct. A clogged vent also restricts airflow, which can raise temperatures inside the dryer.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that lint accumulation in the dryer or exhaust duct can block airflow, cause excessive heat buildup, and potentially result in a fire.

That’s why cleaning only the lint screen isn’t enough.

2. Mechanical Parts Can Fail

A clothes dryer contains motors, controls, wiring, switches, and numerous moving components. Like any appliance, those parts can eventually wear out or malfunction.

NFPA research on dryer fires found that, in addition to failure to clean, mechanical failures and electrical failures were significant factors in dryer fires.

An unusual squealing, grinding, rattling, burning smell, or unexpectedly hot dryer shouldn’t be ignored.

If you’re home, you have a chance to hear, smell, or see those warning signs.

If you’re miles away, you don’t.

3. Electrical Problems Can Develop

Electric dryers place a substantial demand on a home’s electrical system. Damaged wiring, worn components, loose electrical connections, or other malfunctions can create heat, arcing, or sparks.

Dryers should be plugged directly into an appropriate wall outlet and never connected through an extension cord. The U.S. Fire Administration specifically warns that extension cords can overheat when used with major appliances.

4. Restricted Venting Creates Excess Heat

Your dryer isn’t supposed to simply generate heat—it also has to move that heat and moisture safely out of the appliance.

A vent that is clogged, crushed, excessively long, or otherwise restricted reduces airflow.

One warning sign is clothing that suddenly takes much longer than normal to dry. The dryer itself or the laundry may also feel unusually hot.

Don’t just run the clothes through another cycle. A longer drying time could be telling you that the dryer isn’t exhausting properly.

Why Being Home Makes a Difference

Being home won’t prevent every dryer fire, but it gives you something very important: the opportunity for early detection.

Imagine a dryer beginning to overheat.

You might smell hot plastic or burning lint. You may hear a new grinding or squealing sound. A smoke alarm may activate. You may even see smoke coming from the laundry area.

Those early warnings can allow you to get everyone safely out of the home and call the fire department.

If no one is home, a malfunction may continue unnoticed until a neighbor sees smoke or a monitored alarm detects the fire.

That’s why fire-safety organizations and fire departments recommend turning the dryer off when you leave your home.

The same advice applies at bedtime: don’t start the dryer and go to sleep.

Simple Ways to Reduce Your Dryer Fire Risk

A few simple habits can make a big difference:

• Clean the lint screen before or after every load.
• Have the entire dryer exhaust vent cleaned regularly. The CPSC recommends cleaning lint from the vent pipe at least annually.
• Check the exterior vent. When the dryer is operating, make sure the outside vent flap opens and air is flowing freely.
• Check behind the dryer for accumulated lint and debris.
• Make sure the vent hose isn’t crushed or kinked.
• Never operate a dryer without its lint filter.
• Keep clothing, cardboard boxes, cleaning products, and other combustible materials away from the dryer.
• Never use an extension cord to power a clothes dryer.
• Watch for unusually long drying times. They can indicate restricted airflow.
• Stop using the dryer if you smell burning or hear unusual noises and have it inspected.
• Have the dryer professionally serviced when necessary.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working.
• And perhaps the easiest safety habit of all: Turn the dryer off before leaving home or going to bed.

Don’t Forget the Dryer Vent

Many homeowners faithfully clean the lint screen after every load but rarely think about what is happening inside the ductwork behind the dryer.

Lint that escapes the filter can gradually accumulate inside that vent.

The CPSC recommends periodically cleaning the dryer vent and exhaust duct and checking the exterior vent while the appliance is running to make sure air is actually escaping. The U.S. Fire Administration also emphasizes keeping the lint filter, back of the dryer, and venting system clean and unobstructed.

If your dryer seems to be taking longer and longer to dry a load, don’t assume the appliance is simply getting old. Have the vent system checked.

A Load of Laundry Can Wait

We understand the temptation to let the dryer finish while you’re running errands. Life is busy, and there’s always another load of laundry waiting.

But your home is worth more than the few minutes you might save.

Before you grab your keys or head to bed, take a second to check the laundry room.

If the dryer is running, turn it off. You can always restart it when you’re home.

Sometimes the simplest safety habits are the ones that can make the biggest difference.

A&M Insurance Safety Tip

Home insurance is there to help when the unexpected happens, but preventing a loss is always better than recovering from one. Regular dryer maintenance, working smoke alarms, and staying home while heat-producing appliances are operating are simple steps that can help protect your home and the people in it.