Dryer Vent Cleaning in Castle Rock, CO
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It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make lint stick
Every load of laundry sends warm, damp air out through the vent. On a night that averages 17°F, that air cools fast once it hits the metal duct, and the moisture in it settles on the walls of the vent. Lint sticks to a damp surface far more than it would to a dry one, so the buildup packs in tighter with every load.
A vent that's choked with lint can't move air the way it should. The dryer takes longer to dry a load, runs hotter than it's supposed to, and pushes exhaust back into the house instead of outside.
- 17°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 9 months
- September through May, 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 for most households. If you run loads almost every day, or if your vent run is long or has several bends, check it sooner. Lint builds up inside the duct even when the lint trap looks clean, and that buildup is what leads to poor drying and the risk of fire.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the parts you can reach, but most homes need more than that. Pulling the dryer out and vacuuming the first few feet of duct helps, and a vent brush kit can push a little further in. The trouble is the rest of the run, especially where it bends or where it exits through the roof or wall, since lint collects at every turn and you cannot see it or reach it with a household vacuum. A contractor has the length of rod and the camera to clear the whole line and confirm the vent hood outside is actually letting air out.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take longer than one cycle to dry, or come out hot to the touch instead of just warm, are the clearest sign. Others include a burning smell during the cycle, the dryer running hotter than usual, lint showing up around the door seal, or little to no airflow at the outside vent hood when the dryer runs. Any one of these means the exhaust path is restricted somewhere between the drum and the outside wall.