Time to clean your dryer vent
Five warning signs that it is time to clean your dryer vent:
- Drying time for clothes takes a long time. When a dryer vent is clogged, the drying time can double or triple. You will notice that clothes are not completely dry at the end of the cycle. If your vent is blocked by lint, the air will stay in your dryer keeping your clothes hot and moist. When it takes longer to dry your clothes, you are putting more wear and tear on your equipment.
- Your clothing and the outside of the dryer are very hot. Do you notice that your clothing is very hot at the end of the cycle or that your dryer is too hot to touch. This means it is not exhausting properly. In addition to wasting energy, a clogged dryer vent can cause the heating and blower to wear out faster.
- You may notice a burning smell. When you run your dryer, do you smell a burning odor? Lint is very flammable and can build up in the exhaust tube, lint trap or even the drum casing. If it gets too hot, it can catch on fire.
- The vent hood flap doesn’t open properly. Another red flag that you’re due for a cleaning: you can see lint debris around the dryer hose or outside vent opening. An outside vent that doesn’t open when the dryer is running means air flow has been restricted means air flow has been restricted due to lint build-up.
- It’s been longer than a year since your last inspection. Dryer vents should be inspected at least once per year to reduce fires.
If you hire a professional, like those here at LHT Cooling, Heating & Refrigeration, Inc., expect to pay between $75 and $150 – depending on the length and location of the vent.