Dryer Vent Cleaning in Gillette, WY
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents turn dryer exhaust into a lint trap
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air. Homes here need heat from September through June, and on winter nights that average 13°F, that air cools fast once it hits the vent. The moisture in it turns the lint sticking to the walls damp instead of dry.
Damp lint clings. It builds up in layers instead of blowing out the hood, and the vent narrows a little more each time. A narrow vent means the dryer has to push harder to move the same air, and air that cannot get out backs up into the vent and the room around the dryer instead.
- 13°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 for most households. If you run loads daily or have a long vent run with a lot of turns, check it more often, since lint builds up faster in a duct that twists and climbs. A vent that runs clean lets your dryer heat properly and shortens drying time.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the part you can reach, but that is usually just the first few feet. A vacuum with a hose attachment or a basic lint brush kit will pull lint from near the dryer and near the outside hood. What it will not reach is lint packed into bends further down the line, which is where a lot of the buildup actually sits. A contractor uses rods and a brush sized to the duct to clear the whole run, including the vent hood outside, which matters here since wind can drive debris back into it.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes coming out hot but still damp is the biggest one. Others include a drying time that keeps getting longer, a burning smell during the cycle, the outside vent hood flap barely moving or not moving when the dryer runs, and the top of the dryer feeling hotter than usual. If you notice any of these, have the vent checked soon. A blocked vent traps heat in the duct, and that heat has nowhere to go.