5 Signs Your Dryer Vent is Clogged

Everyone knows to clean the vent inside of the dryer before running your dryer- but did you know there’s a dryer system that needs to be cleaned too?

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 2,900 homes a year catch fire due to clogged dryer vents!

Dryer vent fires are one of the leading causes of home fires. Everyone must take action to ensure the dryer vent is clear and not clogged. Read below to know the 5 warning signs that your dryer vent needs to be cleaned out to avoid potential catastrophes. Maintaining routine dryer vent cleaning will help keep your dryer performing at an optimal level while also increasing the safety of your home.

The 5 Signs Your Dryer Vent is Clogged-

1. Your Clothes Are Taking Too Long To Dry

Have you noticed that you need to run the dryer twice or more to get the clothes dry? You’re either making the drying loads too full, or your dryer vent is clogged.

If your dryer vent has any blockage from lint, there is not enough airflow through the dryer to dry the clothes inside completely. If you are diligent about clearing the lint trap every time you run your dryer and the load is still not completely dry after one cycle, it sounds like it is time to get your dryer vent cleaned.

2. Clothing and/or Outside of Dryer Are Very Hot

Most people think it’s a normal occurance clothes to be hot to the touch right after the drying cycle. This is a dangerous misconception! When you open your dryer, you should be met with a pleasantly warm load of clothes. If you are met with clothes that are hot to the touch, the dryer vent is mostlikely clogged.

When there is a clogged dryer vent, the heat during the drying cycle is more concentrated, and the clogged lint as well as your clothes are in danger of igniting and causing a fire. If the outside of your dryer is hot, this is a sure sign that the dryer vent is clogged.

3. Burning Smell Coming from the Dryer

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right? If your dryer has a burning smell then you need to take action and TURN THE MACHINE OFF IMMEDIATLY and contact a fire department. Our goal is to prevent this hazard long before smoke appears. If your dryer vent is clogged, the lint buildup gets extremely hot which causees the heat to become concentrated and any flammable materials can ignite.

4. Lint and Debris Buildup Around the Outside Vent

The dryer vent on the outside of the house is a good place to inspect for clues to discover if your dryer vent is clogged. If lint and debris buildup is visible on or around this outside vent, there’s a good chance you need a professional to inspect the venting system and perform a thorough cleaning.

We also recommend installing a bird guard on the outerior vent to prevent animals from coming in or birds from making their nest inside the dryer vent.

5. Alteast 1 Year Has Past Since Your Last Dryer Vent Cleaning

Perhaps you can’t recall the last time you or a professional serviced your dryer or cleaned the dryer vents, or you know that it has been atleast 1 year since it was done? In that case, it is time to go ahead schedule the service. Dryer vents need to be cleaned out yearly to ensure there is no lint build up and prevent fires.

After all, you can’t put a price tag on the peace of mind your appliance service will provide to you.

Ready to Contact An Air Duct Cleaning Specialist?

At Regal Duct Cleaning, we use a gentle and effective cleaning technique to clean the dryer vent. It is recommended, and often required by home associations to have your dryer vent cleaned every year to prevent dryer fires and to keep your machine running properly. We are here to help with your dryer vent cleaning needs & look forward to hearing from you contact Regal Duct Cleaning today.

Contact Regal Duct Cleaning