Guide
How Often Should You Clean Your Dryer Vent?
For many homes, a yearly check is a sensible starting point. The right timing depends on your vent, your dryer and how much laundry you do.
What changes the timing
- Length and route: long runs and lots of turns collect lint faster
- Rooftop vents: common in condos, and easy to forget about
- Household size: more laundry means more lint
- Pets and bedding: both add a lot of lint
- Shared buildings: you may not know when the line was last cleaned
Warning signs not to ignore
If clothes need more than one cycle, the dryer feels very hot, or the outside flap barely moves, don't wait for the yearly check. Stop using the dryer if you smell burning. The U.S. Fire Administration found failure to clean was the leading contributing factor in residential dryer fires, at 34 percent.
What you can do yourself
- Clean the lint trap with every load
- Check that the outside flap opens freely
- Pull the dryer forward once in a while to make sure the hose isn't crushed
- Don't run the dryer when you leave home
For the rest of the line, book a dryer vent cleaning. If you have a crushed or poorly routed line, it may need repair or rerouting.