Dryer Vent Cleaning in Springfield, MO
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It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make lint stick
Every load pushes warm, damp air out through the vent. From December through February, the nights here average 25°F, and that vent runs cold most of its length. The moist air cools fast, and the lint inside stops moving. It sticks to the walls of the duct instead of blowing out the hood.
Layer by layer, that buildup narrows the path the air has to take. The dryer has to push harder to move the same load, and the hot air has nowhere to go but back into the duct. A vent that is choked with lint is also a vent full of dry fuel sitting a few feet from a heat source.
- 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 is the general rule for a household running the dryer a normal number of loads a week. If more people live in the house or the vent run is long with a lot of turns, lint builds up faster and it should be checked more often. A vent that takes longer than it used to for clothes to dry is telling you it needs attention sooner than your yearly schedule.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the part you can reach, which is usually the first few feet from the dryer and the hood outside where the vent exits the house. A rod-and-brush kit made for this job will get further than a vacuum alone. The stretch in between, especially if the vent runs through the attic or a wall, is where lint collects the most and where a contractor with the right length of equipment can actually reach it.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes coming out hot to the touch but still damp is the clearest sign. You may also notice the dryer running longer than it used to, the outside of the dryer feeling warmer than normal, or a burnt smell during the cycle. Check the outside vent hood too. If the flap barely moves or you don't feel much air pushing out while the dryer runs, the vent is likely blocked somewhere along its length.