Fire Prevention in Laundromats

SC Laundromat InvestingDid you know that commercial dryer fires have a 78% higher injury rate than residential dryer fires? The majority of laundromat fires are caused by a buildup of lint in the dryer's vent or by rags with flammable liquids on them that are being dried in the laundromat's machines. Preventing a fire in your laundromat protects your investment in your equipment and your business. Before you're awakened by a middle of the night call from the fire department, consider taking these preventative measures. Did you know that SC laundromat investing is easy with the help of T & L Laundry Equipment? If you're interested in learning more about these amazing opportunities, please give us a call today.

Regular Maintenance
Keeping your equipment maintained is one of the best ways to prevent a fire in your laundromat. One of the most often overlooked areas for routine upkeep is the exhaust ducts that run to the outside of your building. These ducts are filled with lint, dryer sheets, and other obstructions which can cause your dryers to work harder and overheat. In some municipalities, a screen is required to be placed over the outside dryer ducts. If this is the case where your laundromat is located, cleaning the exhaust ducts and removing debris from the screens is something that should be done routinely. In addition to posing a fire hazard, restricted airflow could cause damage to your equipment over a period of time. Repeated overheating can put excessive strain on the heating element of your dryer and cause it to malfunction or wear out more quickly. Regular inspections and cleaning of your exhaust duct work may be necessary depending on the length of the ducts and the complexity of the system. In order to avoid damaging the ducts or causing complete blockages, a professional duct cleaning company could assess and perform the service for you. Attempting to do it yourself may result in the need for expensive and complicated repairs. Another worthwhile routine check that should be performed is a check on the duct connection at your dryer. Ensuring that this connection is secure is crucial to help move lint and debris away from your machine and reduce the likelihood of damage to your dryer.

Overdry Protection
Also known as auto dry, this feature does more than protect your customers' clothing and linens from excessive heat damage. Overdry protection can help keep your customers' clothing and other items from becoming overheated and causing a fire inside the drum of the dryer. Instead of allowing this process to occur, machines that have isolated lifters in the baskets detect the moisture level in the items inside and can shut off the dryer at any time. This reduces the risk of your customers' items becoming overheated and it also lessens the number of fibers shed which results in less lint to clog the inside of your machine. Lint fires are the most common fires inside a laundromat. While these fires usually burn out quickly, they can severely damage the machine where the fire starts and other machines around it. The tumble setting on dryers is not designed to reduce wrinkles as many people think. This function helps prevent the heat from building up inside fibers and producing enough heat to cause the load to smolder.

Fire Suppression Systems
Some dryers, like those from Speed Queen, have an optional fire suppression system available. If the dryer's other safety systems fail, this system will kick in and release a steady flow of water onto the fire to flood the dryer. There is no off sensor on the system, so water will continue to flow until it is shut off. However, in the event of a fire, extinguishing the flames in a timely manner while your laundromat is unmanned could save you a catastrophic loss in your business. The system is simple and effective. Many laundries hesitate to install this equipment on their machines because it does require the installation of an additional water supply to the location of your dryers. However, these systems are ideal for locations like hospitals, care facilities, and hotels where a fire in the laundry room could mean the extensive evacuation of people and cause harm.

Other common causes for fires in laundromats include electrical shorts inside the machine, older equipment with bypassed safety features, poorly maintained burners, and arcing door switches. Many of these fire hazards can be avoided by maintaining and regularly inspecting your equipment. If your machines start setting off fuses or begin to display error codes, turn off and unplug the machine. Calling for service from the professionals at T & L Laundry Equipment can help you avoid further damage to your equipment and prevent a fire from starting. At T & L we stock the area's most extensive supply of genuine manufacturers' parts and know that getting your machine up and running again is your priority. Our dedicated service team performs routine maintenance, major repairs, and installations for our customers throughout the area. We proudly offer planned maintenance agreements that help keep your repair costs low and your machines running like new.

SC Laundromat Investing with T & L

For more than 40 years, T & L Laundry Equipment has worked hard to keep laundromat owners aware of the latest trends in commercial laundry equipment and the vended laundry industry. Our goal isn't to be another vendor for your business. We want to be a partner in your success. Call or come by the showroom today to learn more about the advantages of choosing the right equipment partner for your laundry. What are you waiting for? Put our team to work for your laundry today!

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