Dryer Vent Cleaning in Greenwood, SC
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold winter nights work against your dryer vent
Every load of laundry pushes warm, damp air out through the vent. On winter nights that average 35°F, that air hits cold metal partway through the run and cools fast. Moisture beads up on the inside of the vent, and lint sticks to it instead of blowing outside.
Over a heating season that runs November through March, that wet lint builds into a real blockage. A vent that cannot push air out slows the dryer down and leaves lint sitting where it can catch heat it should not.
- 35°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 5 months
- November through March, the vent stays cold
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- Once a year is the general rule, but a household running the dryer daily or with a long vent run should have it checked sooner. Lint builds up along the inside of the duct even when the lint trap looks clean, since the trap never catches all of it. If drying times have crept up compared to a year ago, that is a sign the vent needs attention sooner.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the first few feet near the dryer yourself, but most vent runs go through walls, ceilings, or up to a roof cap, and lint further in is hard to reach with a household vacuum. A contractor uses a brush and rod system or a vacuum built for the full length of the duct, including the elbows where lint tends to collect. If your vent run is short and straight, a vent brush kit from a hardware store can handle it.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes taking longer than usual to dry, or coming out hot to the touch at the end of a cycle, is the clearest sign. Others are a burning smell while the dryer runs, the outside vent hood flap barely moving or not opening when the dryer is on, and lint collecting around the vent opening outside. Any of these means airflow is restricted and the vent needs to be checked.