Telltale Signs You Need Dryer Vent Cleaning

According to House Digest, the average dryer lasts anywhere between 10 to 13 years. All that laundry produces a lot of lint, which is a combination of pet hair and clothing fibers. The dryer vent, which is connected to the back of your dryer and vents the warm air outside, can easily become clogged with lint and other debris.

Allowing the lint to build up inside the dryer can be dangerous and can even lead to a fire. Here are a few telltale signs you need to hire a professional to clean your dryer vent.

Your Dryer Takes Longer to Dry a Load

Is it suddenly taking longer and longer to dry a load? Do your clothes run through an entire dryer cycle but are still damp? When the dryer vent becomes overloaded with lint, dirt, and debris, the dryer cannot heat up properly and will not dry the clothing properly. Unfortunately, it will take more time to run the dryer, which can cost you a lot of money in the long run.

The Laundry Room and Clothes Smells Moldy or Musty

When your dryer vent is clogged and isn't functioning properly, the clothes cannot dry quickly. When you leave damp clothing inside the dryer, it can begin to smell musty. This musty odor can permeate the entire laundry room and, over time, will become very noticeable. Allowing your dryer vent to remain full means your clothes cannot dry properly, and if they smell moldy or musty, you will need to wash them a second time.

Excessive Amounts of Lint Inside the Dryer

Most dryers have a lint trap that must be cleaned after each use. Unfortunately, if the dryer vent becomes overfilled with lint, dirt, and debris, the lint will often back up into the dryer. If you are pulling clumps of wet lint out of your dryer and your clothing is covered with lint, chances are you need to have your dryer vent professionally cleaned.

The Laundry Room Is Excessively Hot

The dryer vent removes excess heat from the dryer. One of the clearest signs that the dryer vent is full and should be immediately cleaned is that your laundry room is excessively hot while you are running the appliance. The combination of heat and a burning smell is a sign of a serious problem. If these two signs occur together, stop using your dryer and have the vent cleaned immediately.

From an excessively warm laundry room to the presence of excess lint inside the dryer, there are several signs you need to have your dryer vent professionally cleaned.

Reach out to a dryer vent cleaning technician to learn more.