Dryer Vent Cleaning in O'Fallon, MO
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents catch more lint
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every load. Once that air hits the cold duct running through an unheated space, it cools fast, and lint sticks to the damp walls instead of blowing clear out the hood. On a night near 25°F, that happens closer to the house than it would on a mild day.
A vent that narrows with lint runs hotter and takes longer to dry a load. It is also the one part of the dryer most people never look at.
- 25°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 for most households. If you run large loads often or dry a lot of towels and bedding, lint builds up faster and the vent may need cleaning more often. A vent that takes longer to clear out each time you check it is telling you to move up the schedule.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the part you can reach, but that is usually just the first few feet behind the dryer. Most vent runs go through a wall or up through the roof, with bends where lint collects out of sight. A contractor uses a brush and vacuum sized for the full length of the duct, including the vent hood outside.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that stay damp after a full cycle, a dryer that runs hotter than usual, and a burning smell are the main signs. You may also notice the outside vent hood flap barely moves when the dryer runs, which means airflow is restricted. Lint around the dryer or a musty smell in the laundry room points the same way.