Your Dryer Vent Needs More Than the Lint Trap
Cleaning the lint screen after every load is a great habit, but lint still builds up in the vent behind the dryer. Here's how often to clean it, the warning signs, and the hose to replace.
Cleaning the lint screen after every load is a great habit, but it isn't the whole job. Lint slips past the screen and builds up inside the vent that carries hot air outside. The U.S. Fire Administration lists failure to clean as the leading cause of clothes dryer fires.
How often to clean the vent
Plan on a full vent cleaning at least once a year, and more often if you have a big family, pets that shed, or a long vent run. A lot of homes around Cherokee County have upstairs laundry rooms, and those vents often travel a long way to reach an outside wall or the roof. Longer runs clog faster.
Warning signs
- Clothes take more than one cycle to dry
- The dryer or the clothes feel unusually hot
- A burning smell while the dryer is running
- The flap on the outside vent doesn't open while the dryer runs
- Lint collecting around the outside vent opening
Replace the flimsy hose
Look behind your dryer. If the hose is white vinyl or thin foil that crushes easily, replace it with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct. It traps less lint and is much safer.
Keep the lint screen clean too
Clean it before or after every load. Every few months, wash it in warm, soapy water and let it dry. Dryer sheets can leave a film on the screen that you can't see but that slows the airflow.
DIY or hire it out?
For a short vent behind a first-floor laundry room, a dryer vent brush kit from the hardware store works well. Unplug the dryer, pull it away from the wall, and clean from both ends. If you have a gas dryer, a long run, a roof vent, or a second-floor laundry room, I'd hire a dryer vent cleaning company. Many will also check the outside vent cover, where birds sometimes like to build nests.
It's a small job that makes a big difference, and your clothes will dry faster too. If you ever have questions about your home, I'm always happy to help.
Kate Valor is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty Partners, serving Canton, Georgia and the greater Cherokee County area.