Fire at Pete's!!!

[Hylton]

Glad you and family are okay. Hopefully your insurance company will be quick about things.

[SmallHurst]

Everyone, make sure that you clean that lint up as frequently as you can. I remember when my brother and I would burn trash. We would search for the dryer lint because we would be sure of a fire if we could light a match. Make sure that whoever is doing the laundry cleans that lint trap EVERY time. I also learned that dryer sheets are bad news as well. They will actually coat the screen on that lint trap so that you can actually hold water! I knew doing laundry was dangerous, but.....


Pete,

Sorry to hear about that. Take care of yourself.

[SamLBInj]

Glad you guys are ok Pete! As a long time plumber I have seen that a few times. If you read the dryer installation sheet it usually say's the warranty is void if you use a plastic vent. Always use hard metal vent and keep it cleaned out. You would be amazed at how many we find that are plugged with wet nasty 20 year old lint. (The guys always keep the loose change ) Was yours gas or electric?

[SamLBInj]

While were on the subject of keeping appliances safe.....Make sure your relief valve on your water heater is in working order (Just hold a bucket under it and give it a quick snap once in a while and a small blast of hot water will come out and then it will reseal.) Water heaters can explode like a bomb and I have seen them go right through a wall or roof. I've seen tests where they will blow about 40 feet in the air!

[Z-11 396]

Pete, so sorry for your loss, and thankful for the fact you, and your family are ok...Kasey

[PeteLeathersac]

Thanks fellas...and yes everyone's Ok, only my lad's pet snake didn't make it through the smoke..

The dryer was electric and the pipes and lint were cleaned regularly enough...just that bendable 'slinky' style wire and plastic dryer pipe is the suspected cause as apparently it becomes flammable after years of doing the hot/cold thing?.

I know I've lost a bunch of antiques and memorabilia that was in an antique hoosier cupboard in the laundry area but it's smoke damage that's the big concern?.

Thankfully it's not my garage/shop that went up...no cars in there right now but lots of parts and a dozen or so old factory racing sleds..

I've had a busy week with work and my kids also dealing with insurance people while scrambling with the situation...I'll be spending the weekend going through the house stuff and will know more then what's survived or not?.

Thanks for everyone's concerns...don't forget to go look at your own dryer pipe setups!.

~ Pete

[Verne_Frantz]

Sorry to hear about all that Pete. Glad everyone is ok. I hope you don't have too much trouble with insurance. They usually like to have the expensive items documented with photos, appraisals or receipts.

Verne

[ORIGLS6]

Glad to hear everyone's safe Pete. Fires are scary. Probably one of my worst fears. I sincerely hope your losses are an absolute minimum.

[budnate]

Dang Pete, take care,
we have covered it before here a guy that knows what he is doing can really pull the smoke damage out of most of your stuff with his air changer gizmo's, but they need to be doing it like today!!

[LVCamaro]

WOW...glad you're okay, Pete.

I know what I'm doing this weekend.

SS