Dryer Vent Cleaning in Kansas City, MO
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It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make lint stick
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every time it runs. When that air hits a vent that is sitting in weather averaging 23°F, it cools fast, and the moisture in it beads up on the metal walls. Lint sticks to a damp surface a lot easier than it does to a dry one.
That buildup narrows the vent a little at a time. Air moves slower, moisture has longer to cool and stick, and the dryer has to push harder to force air out at all.
- 23°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 7 months
- October through April, the vent stays cold
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- Once a year is the general rule for most households. If you dry a lot of towels, bedding, or large loads, lint builds up faster and the vent may need attention sooner. A good sign it's due is when a load that used to take one cycle now takes two.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the section right behind the dryer and the hood outside yourself. The rest of the run is harder to reach, since the duct usually travels through a wall or the attic before it gets outside, with lint catching at every bend. A vent brush kit only reaches so far, and beyond that a contractor with a longer rod and a shop vac can clear the whole line.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes taking more than one cycle to dry is the clearest sign. Others include the outside vent hood flap staying shut while the dryer runs, a burning smell, the dryer running hotter than usual, or lint collecting around the door seal. Any one of these is worth checking, and if you notice more than one, the vent needs clearing soon.