Dryer Vent Cleaning in Bellows Falls, VT
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It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold air turns lint into a wet, sticky mess
Every load you dry pushes warm, damp air out through the vent. On a night near 14 degrees, that air cools fast once it hits the metal duct. The moisture that comes out of it gives the lint something to stick to instead of just blowing through and out the hood.
That buildup narrows the vent a little more with each load. The dryer has to push harder to move air through it, and the exhaust that does get out carries heat and moisture back into the house instead of outside.
- 14°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 9 months
- September through May, the vent stays cold
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- A good rule is once a year, though a contractor can tell you if your setup needs it more often. A vent run with a lot of bends or one that runs longer than most will trap lint faster. If your dryer takes two cycles to dry a load, or you notice less airflow at the vent hood outside, clean it sooner rather than waiting on a schedule.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the lint trap and the first few feet of duct behind the dryer yourself, and you should do that often. The rest of the run is harder to reach and usually bends through a wall or up through a roof, so a full cleaning calls for a brush and rod system built for the job. A contractor can also check the vent hood outside, which you cannot see or clear from indoors.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that come out hot but still damp are the clearest sign. Others include a dryer that runs longer than it used to, the outside of the dryer feeling hot to the touch, a burning smell, or little to no airflow at the vent hood outside when the dryer runs. Lint collecting around the lint trap slot or a vent hood flap that will not open are worth checking too.