Dryer Vent Cleaning in Florence, SC
Tell us about your home, and a licensed contractor who covers Florence County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents catch more lint
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every load. On a winter night in Florence, when the temperature outside the vent is down near 36°F, that air cools fast as it moves through the duct. The moisture in it beads up on the inside walls of the vent, and lint sticks to the damp metal instead of blowing on through.
Over a season of nights like that, the lint builds into a lining along the duct. That lining narrows the path the air has to take, so the dryer has to push harder to clear the vent, and the exhaust that does not get out stays in the duct as more damp air for the next load to stick to.
- 36°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 5 months
- November through March, 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?
- Most manufacturers call for cleaning the vent once a year. Lint builds up inside the duct even if you empty the lint trap every load, because not all of it gets caught before the air moves on down the line. A vent that stays clean lets the dryer push air out fast, which is what actually dries the clothes.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the parts you can reach, but the full run is harder to handle on your own. Most vents travel through the wall and out to a hood outside, with bends along the way where lint collects and stays put. A shop vac and a brush from either end will only pull out what is near the openings. A contractor uses rods and brushes long enough to reach the whole vent, bends included.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that need a second cycle to dry, or come out hot instead of just warm, are the clearest sign. Check the outside vent hood while the dryer runs. If you feel little or no air coming out, or you see lint gathered around the hood, the vent is blocked somewhere along its run. A burning smell during a cycle means lint has built up enough to be a fire risk, and that needs attention right away.