OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee are developing an ultrasonic dryer that uses high-pitched vibrations to shake the water out of clothing.
Ultrasonic dryers are not only projected to be three to five times more energy efficient than traditional dryers, but will eliminate much of the lint and heat behind dryer fires, CNN Money reports.
The heat and lint generated by traditional dryers is directly responsible for starting 2,900 fires per year, according to the United States Fire Administration. Dryer fires cause over $35 million in property damage each year, along with over 100 injuries and 5 deaths annually.
Though Americans first started using residential dryers in 1938, the technology has not evolved much since. Drying clothes by blasting them with hot air is an energy-intensive process that costs $9 billion per year to operate across the United States, and is also a significant fire risk for households.
They’ll also be faster, cheaper to run, and less damaging to any fabrics.
Head researcher Ayyoub Momen tells CNN Money that he estimates the dryer will cost about $500 to $1,000 for consumers, which is about the same as a premium commercial dryer.
A full-sized prototype of the ultrasonic dryer won’t be tested until August, here are a few tips that can help prevent the malfunction of your dryers and help maintain home fire safety.
- Clean the lint filter before and after each load of laundry.
- Don’t forget to clean the back of the dryer, where lint collects and blocks ventilation.
- Clothes taking longer to dry than normal is an early warning sign of lint buildup.
- Don’t dry items that have come into contact with flammables such as alcohol or gasoline.
- Don’t put rubber or fiberglass items in the dryer.