Dryer vent maintenance for landlords
The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them. Tenants can clean the lint filter, but the vent pipe and the connection are usually yours.
What landlords should do
- Have dryers installed and serviced by a professional, and make sure they're properly grounded with the right plug and outlet.
- Use rigid or flexible metal venting to keep the air flowing.
- Once a year, clean the lint out of the vent pipe, or have a dryer lint removal service do it. Do it sooner if tenants say clothes take longer to dry.
- Check that the outdoor vent flap opens when the dryer runs and isn't covered by snow.
- Have gas dryers inspected by a qualified professional to make sure the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.
What to ask tenants
- Clean the lint filter before or after every load.
- Don't run the dryer without the filter, and don't overload it.
- Turn it off when they leave home or go to bed.
- Tell you right away if clothes take longer to dry than usual.
Teach it once, for every tenant. SaferResident sends each tenant a 20 minute phone course built around your building, with reminders, and gives you a certificate for every unit. $2 per unit per month, billed once a year as $24 per unit. Free for the first 60 days.
Sources
- Clothes Dryer Safety (tip sheet, PDF), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- Clothes Dryer Fire Safety (flyer, PDF), U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)
Updated October 1, 2026. General safety information. It doesn't replace your building's safety systems, local codes or your lease. In an emergency, call 911.