Dryer Vent Cleaning in Las Vegas, NM
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make lint stick
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air, and out in the vent it hits a run of metal that sits cold for eight months of the year, December through February nights here average 22°F. That warm air cools fast inside the cold vent, and the moisture in it settles on the walls. Lint sticks to a damp surface far more than a dry one, so the buildup packs in tighter along the run.
A vent that is choked with lint cannot push air out as fast as the dryer needs. Clothes take longer to dry, the dryer runs hotter than it should, and the moisture that should leave the house stays trapped in the duct.
- 22°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 8 months
- October 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 dry large loads often, or your vent run to the outside is long or has several bends, it clogs faster and is worth checking more than once a year. A vent that is clogged makes the dryer run hotter and longer to dry the same load, so cleaning it on schedule is what keeps drying times where they should be.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clear the first few feet behind the dryer yourself with a vacuum or a brush kit made for this. What you can't reach is the rest of the run to the outside vent hood, especially where it bends or passes through the attic. A contractor uses a rod and brush system built to clean the full length and check that the vent hood flap outside opens freely.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes taking longer to dry than they used to, or coming out hot to the touch instead of just warm, is the first sign. The top of the dryer may feel hot during a cycle, and you may notice weak airflow if you hold your hand near the outside vent hood while it runs. A burning smell or lint built up around the vent hood outside means it's overdue for cleaning.