Dryer Vent Cleaning in Morgantown, WV
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make lint stick
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every time it runs. Once that air hits the cold vent it starts to cool fast, especially on nights that average 24°F from December through February. Moisture beads up on the inside walls of the vent, and lint sticks to it instead of blowing through to the outside.
Layer by layer that buildup narrows the vent. Air backs up, the dryer takes longer to dry a load, and the vent hood flap may not push open all the way anymore. Some of that damp lint stays put right through the eight months a year you're running the heat, October through May.
- 24°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 for most households. If you run several loads a day, check it more often since lint builds up faster with heavier use. A vent that runs clean keeps your dryer working the way it should and cuts down the risk of a fire behind the wall.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clear the first few feet near the machine yourself, but you won't reach the rest of the run. The vent pipe usually travels several feet through walls or ceilings before it reaches the outside hood, and a shop vac or brush from the dryer end only gets you so far. A full cleaning needs a rod-and-brush setup run from both ends, which is why most people have this done rather than tackle the whole line themselves.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take more than one cycle to dry, a dryer that runs hot to the touch, and a burning smell partway through the cycle are the main ones. You may also notice less airflow coming from the outside vent hood when the dryer runs, or lint collecting around the hood flap itself. Any of these on their own is worth checking out, since a blocked vent traps heat that has nowhere to go.