Dryer Vent Cleaning in Virginia Beach, VA
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents catch more lint than warm ones
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every load. From November through April, that vent runs through duct that sits in cold space, with winter nights averaging 35°F. The warm air cools fast against those cold walls, and the moisture it carries turns to dampness on the inside of the vent. Lint sticks to damp walls instead of blowing straight through.
Once lint builds up along the duct, the dryer has to push harder to move air out of the house. A clogged vent also means the moist air has to go somewhere, and some of it backs up into the house instead of outside where it belongs.
- 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 for most households. Lint builds up along the whole length of the vent, not just in the trap, and a year is long enough for it to narrow the airway. If you notice clothes drying slower than they used to, have it checked sooner rather than waiting out the year.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the first few feet from the back of the dryer, but that is usually as far as a homeowner can safely reach. Most vents run several feet through a wall or ceiling before reaching the outside hood, with a bend or two along the way, and lint collects at those bends more than anywhere else. A contractor uses a rod and brush system built to travel the full length and clear it without tearing the ductwork.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take two cycles to dry, a dryer that runs hot to the touch, and a burning smell are the clearest signs. You might also notice little to no airflow at the outside vent hood when the dryer is running, or lint gathering around the hood flap. Any of these means air is not moving through the vent the way it should, and it is worth having someone check it before running the dryer again.