Dryer Vent Cleaning in Arnold, MO
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It takes about a minute.
Cold air turns dryer lint into a wall of buildup
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every time it runs. In the vent, that air meets cold. Arnold winter nights average 25°F from December through February, and a metal duct running through a cold space chills fast. The moisture in the exhaust condenses on the vent walls, and lint sticks to the wet metal instead of blowing outside.
That buildup narrows the vent a little more each month. A duct that is choked with wet lint can't clear the moist air fast enough, so it backs up into the duct and adds to the clog. A dryer working against a blocked vent takes longer to dry a load and runs hotter than it should.
- 25°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 7 months
- October through April, the vent stays cold
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- Once a year is the general rule, and a contractor can tell you if your setup needs it more often. Lint builds up along the whole length of the vent, not just in the trap, and it narrows the path the air needs to escape. A longer run or one with more bends collects lint faster and may need more frequent cleaning.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the first few feet from the back of the dryer yourself, and that is worth doing. Pull the dryer out, disconnect the vent, and clear out what you can reach by hand or with a vent brush. The rest of the run, especially if it goes up through a wall or out through the roof, takes a longer brush and a way to check that it came out clean, which is why most homeowners have that part done by someone who does this regularly.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take longer than they used to, or that come out hot to the touch instead of just warm, are the clearest sign. The outside of the dryer may feel warmer than normal, and the room itself can heat up while it runs. You may also notice less airflow at the outside vent hood when you hold your hand near it, or lint collecting around the hood itself.