Dryer Vent Cleaning in Yakima, WA
Tell us about your home, and a licensed contractor who covers Yakima County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make lint stick
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every time it runs. Once that air hits the cold vent run, on nights that average 24°F from December through February, it cools fast, and the moisture in it turns to condensation on the vent walls. Lint sticks to a damp surface far more than a dry one, so the buildup packs in tighter and holds on harder.
A vent that cannot push air out backs up. Wet lint near the wall or roof cap can freeze and block the opening further. When the exhaust has nowhere to go, it either slows the dryer down or finds a way back into the house.
- 24°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 10 months
- September through June, the vent stays cold
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- Once a year is right for most homes. That keeps lint from building up to the point where it blocks airflow or becomes a fire risk. If you notice clothes drying slower than they used to, don't wait for the year mark, have it checked sooner.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the first few feet from the back of the dryer, but you can't see or reach the rest of the run. Vents often go up through a wall or across a long stretch to an outside hood, and lint collects at every bend along the way. A brush kit reaches further than your hands, but a full cleaning usually means disconnecting the duct at both ends, which is worth having a contractor do.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take more than one cycle to dry, a dryer that feels hot to the touch on the outside, and a burnt smell when it runs are the main signs. You might also notice little to no airflow at the outside vent hood when the dryer is on, or lint collecting around the hood flap instead of blowing clear. Any one of these means the vent is restricted and needs attention before it gets worse.