According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are 3,000 dryer fires per year caused by an accumulation of lint. Below, are simple steps to take to make sure your home is not part of these statistics.

1) Remove the lint from the dryer's lint screen after every load.

2) Make sure the duct connecting your dryer to the exterior vent is tightly connected and not pinched.

3) Once a year, pull the dryer out from the wall and clean behind and beneath it.

If you notice your dryer getting hot to the touch or taking longer to dry laundry than it usually does, these are clues that there may be a blockage in the dryer vent and the need to have professionals come out to clean the ducts.