Dryer Vent Cleaning in Steamboat Springs, CO
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold air turns dryer lint into a clog fast
The air coming out of your dryer is warm and full of moisture. Once it hits the vent, it has to travel through metal duct sitting in a cold space, and on a night near 11°F that air cools fast. Moisture beads up on the inside of the duct, and lint sticks to the wet walls instead of blowing straight outside.
Each cycle adds another layer. Over a winter that clog thickens, and a duct that once let air pass freely starts fighting the dryer with every load.
- 11°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 10 months
- September through June, 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 standard. Lint builds up inside the vent run whether you notice it or not, and a clogged vent makes the dryer work harder and takes longer to dry a load. A longer run or more bends in the duct traps more lint, so if your dryer takes longer to dry than it used to, don't wait for the year mark to have it checked.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the lint trap and the first few feet of vent yourself, but most homeowners cannot reach the rest of the run. The duct usually travels through walls or a ceiling before it reaches the vent hood outside, and a shop vacuum or a brush from the inside will not get past the first bend. A contractor uses rods and a vacuum built to clear the whole length, including the vent hood itself, where lint and even birds' nests can collect.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take longer than usual to dry, or come out hot to the touch and still damp, are the clearest sign. Others are a burning smell while the dryer runs, the outside of the dryer feeling hot, and little to no airflow at the vent hood when you check it from outside. Lint gathering around the vent opening outside is also a sign the duct is not clearing it the way it should.