Dryer Vent Cleaning in Spokane, WA
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It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold air turns dryer lint into a wall of buildup
Every load sends warm, damp air down the vent and out through the wall. On a night that averages 24°F, that air cools fast once it hits the metal duct. The moisture in it beads up on the inside of the vent, and lint sticks to those wet walls instead of blowing through.
With winter running from September through June here, that cooling happens most of the year. Layer by layer, the vent narrows. Air that should rush out the hood starts backing up instead, and a dryer working against a clogged vent runs hotter and takes longer to get clothes dry.
- 24°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 10 months
- September through June, the vent stays cold
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- Most manufacturers call for cleaning once a year. Lint builds up along the inside of the duct even when the lint trap is clean after every load, and that buildup is what slows the vent down over time. A longer duct run, or one with several bends, collects lint faster than a short straight one, so it may need attention sooner.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the parts you can reach, but that is not the whole run in most homes. Pulling the dryer out and vacuuming the first few feet of duct, plus the vent hood outside, helps between full cleanings. The lint that collects farther down, especially past any bends, needs a brush and rod long enough to reach it, which is why a full cleaning usually calls for a contractor.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take longer to dry, or come out hot to the touch instead of just warm, are the clearest sign. Check the vent hood outside while the dryer runs. Weak airflow there, or almost none, means lint has built up somewhere in the duct. A burning smell or a dryer that shuts off partway through a cycle means the clog has gotten bad enough to need attention soon.