Dryer Vent Cleaning in Washington, MO
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold air turns lint into a clog
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every load. Once it hits the cold metal of the vent, that air cools fast, and the moisture in it settles on the walls of the duct. Lint sticks to a damp surface far more than a dry one, so it builds up in a layer instead of blowing through and out.
On a night that averages 24°F, the vent stays cold for most of its length, so this happens on every run, all winter. A vent narrowed by lint forces the dryer to push harder to move the same air, and the exhaust that should leave the house lingers in the duct instead.
- 24°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 standard rule, whatever kind of household you run. A dryer that suddenly takes longer to dry clothes is telling you it needs cleaning now, whatever the calendar says. Waiting past that point just gives lint more time to pack into the bends and the vent hood.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the first few feet from the back of the dryer yourself with a vent brush kit, and that alone helps. The rest of the run, especially if it bends or goes up through a roof, is hard to reach and easy to damage. A contractor with the right equipment can clear the whole line without tearing the duct.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take more than one cycle to dry, a dryer that runs hot to the touch, and a burnt smell during the cycle all point to a blocked vent. Lint collecting around the outside vent hood, or the hood flap barely moving when the dryer runs, are signs too. Any of these means air isn't getting out the way it should.