Dryer Vent Cleaning in Lakewood, CO
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make lint stick
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every time it runs. Once that air hits the cold vent run, it cools fast, especially on nights that average 18°F through the winter. Moisture beads up on the inside of the duct and lint clings to it instead of blowing outside.
Layer by layer, that buildup narrows the vent. Airflow drops, the dryer takes longer to dry a load, and the lint that's trapped inside is what a vent fire needs.
- 18°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 for most households. If you run large loads often, or you have a long vent run with a lot of turns, clean it more often than that. Lint builds up along the whole length of the duct, not just at the lint trap, and a year is about as long as most systems can go before airflow starts to suffer.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the first few feet from the back of the dryer, but you likely can't reach the whole vent run. Most vents travel through walls or the attic before reaching the outside hood, and a shop vac or brush from your end won't get past the first bend. A contractor uses rods and a vacuum built for the full length, including the exterior hood where lint tends to collect.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take longer than usual to dry, or that come out hot to the touch at the end of a cycle, are the clearest sign. You might also notice the dryer itself running hotter, a burning smell, or less airflow when you check the outside vent hood while it's running. Lint that collects around the hood flap instead of blowing clear is another sign the duct is blocked somewhere inside.