Dryer Vent Cleaning in Portsmouth, VA
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It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make lint stick
Every load of laundry sends warm, damp air out through the vent. From November through April, with nights averaging 35°F, that air is cooling fast against a cold duct. The moisture condenses on the walls of the vent, and lint clings to it instead of blowing through to the outside.
That buildup narrows the path the air has to travel. A dryer working against a partly blocked vent runs longer to dry the same load, and pushes more heat and moisture into the space around it.
- 35°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 6 months
- November 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. If you run large loads often, or you notice the dryer taking longer than it used to, check it sooner. The lint that builds up inside the vent is what causes fires and forces the dryer to run longer to dry a load.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the part you can reach, but that is usually not the whole job. Pulling the dryer out and clearing the lint trap area and the first few feet of duct helps. The duct running to the outside wall or roof needs a brush and rod system to clear properly, and a contractor has that equipment. They can also check that the vent hood flap outside opens and closes the way it should.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that stay damp after a full cycle, a dryer that runs hotter or longer than it used to, and a burning smell are the main ones. Lint collecting around the lint trap area or at the outside vent hood is another sign. If the outside flap barely moves when the dryer runs, air is not getting through the way it should.