Dryer Vent Cleaning in Blacksburg, VA
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make lint stick
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every load. From October through May the vent it travels through is sitting in cold air, and on a lot of nights that air is down around 26°F. The warm air cools fast against those walls, and the moisture in it makes the lint stick instead of blowing through to the outside.
Over time that buildup narrows the vent. Less air gets out, so the dryer runs hotter and takes longer to finish a load, and the lint that collects near the duct and the wall behind the machine is what a dryer fire needs.
- 26°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 8 months
- October through May, 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 if you have pets that shed, check it more often since lint builds up faster. A vent that takes longer than one story to reach outside also collects more lint and needs more frequent attention.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the lint trap and the first few feet of duct yourself, but the full run is harder to reach. Most vents bend at least once between the dryer and the outside wall, and lint collects at those bends where a household vacuum or brush cannot follow. A contractor uses rods and brushes built to clear the whole length, including the vent hood outside.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take longer to dry, or come out hotter than usual, are the first sign. The dryer itself may feel hot to the touch on top, and you might notice a burning smell during a cycle. Less lint than usual in the trap after a load is also a clue, since it means lint is building up in the vent instead.