June 9, 2023
4 min

6 Signs How Often Should You Clean Your Dryer Vent

If you're like most homeowners, you probably don't give your dryer vent much thought until something goes wrong. Not only can cleaning out your dryer vent help keep your home safer from the risk of fire, but it can also save money on energy costs and enhance the performance of your appliance. In this blog post, we'll discuss six signs indicating it's time to clean out that dryer vent and share simple steps for keeping everything running efficiently between deep cleanings. Be sure to read through these tips to know when and how often it makes sense to clear out lint build-up to make every load of laundry safe—and cost-effective!

Your clothes are taking longer to dry.

If your clothes take longer to dry than they used to, it may be a sign that your dryer vent needs to be cleaned. A clogged dryer vent will cause your clothes to take longer to dry as the hot air from the dryer has to struggle to get through the obstruction.

You notice that your clothes are hotter than usual

If your clothes are hotter than normal after being put through the dryer, it may be a sign of a clogged vent. When the duct is obstructed, the hot air from the dryer has nowhere to go and will end up circulating back into the dryer, making your clothes hot.

There is lint on your clothing.

If you notice lint on your clothing after running it through the dryer, it is a sign that your vent needs cleaning. Lint build-up in the flue can cause the hot air from the dryer to circulate back into the machine, which will deposit lint on your clothing.

The area around your dryer is warm.

If you notice that the area around your dryer is warmer than usual, it may be a sign of a clogged vent. When a duct is obstructed, the hot air from the dryer has nowhere to go but back into the machine, causing the area around the device to warm.

You see lint coming out of your dryer vent.

If you see lint coming out of your dryer vent, it is a clear sign that it needs to be cleaned. Lint build-up in the vent can cause the hot air from the dryer to circulate back into the machine, which will blow the lint out of the vent.

Your dryer vent smells bad.

If you notice an unpleasant smell coming from your dryer vent, it is likely due to lint build-up in the machine. Lint is flammable and can cause a fire if it builds up enough in the duct.