Dryer Vent Cleaning in Athens, GA
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Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make lint stick
Every load sends warm, damp air out through the vent. On nights that average 35°F through the winter, that air cools fast once it hits the metal duct. Moisture beads up on the inside walls, and lint clings to it instead of blowing straight out to the hood.
Layer by layer, that buildup narrows the path the air has to travel. The dryer has to push harder to move the same load, and the heat it makes has fewer places to go but back into the vent.
- 35°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 5 months
- November through March, the vent stays cold
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- A good rule is once a year, or sooner if you notice drying times creeping up. A vent with a lot of turns or a long run to the outside wall will catch lint faster than a short, straight one. If several people in the house are doing laundry most days, that vent is working harder and is worth checking more often.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the part you can reach, but that is usually just the first few feet near the dryer. Most of the run is hidden behind the wall or through the attic, and clearing it fully takes a brush and rod long enough to reach the vent hood outside. A contractor can also check that the hood flap opens and closes on its own and that nothing has built a nest inside it, which is hard to see from indoors.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes taking longer than usual to dry, or coming out hot to the touch, is the first sign. The dryer itself may feel hot on the outside, or the vent hood outside will barely move any air while it is running. A burning smell or lint building up around the trap means the clog has gotten worse and should not wait.