Dryer Taking Forever? Clean the Vent Before You Replace the Dryer
Many dryers are replaced because they “stopped drying.” Very often the dryer is fine and the vent is clogged with lint. A blocked vent also happens to be one of the leading causes of house fires involving dryers.
Why the vent matters
A dryer pushes hot, moist air and fine lint through the exhaust duct to the outside. When lint builds up in the duct, airflow drops, drying times get longer and the dryer runs hotter. Safety thermostats and thermal fuses will eventually trip — or, in the worst case, lint ignites. The U.S. Fire Administration has estimated that around 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year, and failure to clean is the leading contributing factor. Its fire prevention guidance covers dryer safety alongside other household risks.
Signs of a clogged vent
- Clothes need two or more cycles to dry.
- The outside of the dryer or the laundry room gets very hot.
- A burning smell during a cycle.
- The outdoor vent flap barely opens while the dryer is running.
- Lint collecting around the outdoor vent or behind the dryer.
- The dryer shuts off mid-cycle or stops heating.
How to clean a dryer vent
- Unplug the dryer (and turn off the gas valve on a gas model).
- Pull the dryer forward and disconnect the duct from the back.
- Vacuum the dryer’s exhaust outlet and the lint screen housing.
- Use a dryer vent brush kit to clean the duct from inside and from the outdoor end.
- Remove the outdoor vent cover if possible and clear any nests or debris.
- Replace plastic or foil accordion duct with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct, and keep the run as short and straight as possible.
- Reconnect, run the dryer and check that the outdoor flap opens fully.
Long runs, roof vents and ducts that pass through attics are harder to clean properly, and a professional cleaning is worth the cost every year or two.
Before you replace the dryer
If drying times have crept up gradually, clean the vent first and test again. If the dryer has already stopped heating, the vent problem may have taken out a thermal fuse or heating element, both of which are inexpensive to replace. Professional dryer vent cleaning combined with a quick check of the dryer is usually far cheaper than a new machine.
If the dryer really is at the end of its life, see our washer and dryer removal guide.