Dryer Vent Cleaning in Concord, NH
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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. That air has to travel through a vent run sitting in cold space, and from December through February the nights here average 14°F. The warm air cools fast against those cold walls, and the moisture in it makes lint cling instead of blowing straight outside.
Over time that damp lint builds into a real blockage. A clogged vent forces your dryer to push exhaust against resistance, and it holds heat and moisture right where the lint has collected.
- 14°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 9 months
- September through May, the vent stays cold
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- A contractor can tell you for sure, but once a year is the general rule for most households. If you run big loads often, or the vent run is long with a lot of turns, it is worth checking more than once a year. Lint builds up inside the duct even when the lint trap looks clean, and that buildup is what slows the dryer down and makes it run hotter than it should.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can handle the part you can reach, which is usually just the first few feet behind the dryer and the vent hood outside. A proper cleaning means running a brush the full length of the duct, and most homes have runs long enough, or with enough bends, that a homeowner kit will not reach the middle sections. A contractor brings a rod system built for the full run and can check the vent hood flap and the seam connections while they're at it.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes taking longer than usual to dry is the first sign most people notice. Others include the dryer running hotter than normal, a burning smell during the cycle, the outside vent hood flap barely moving or not opening at all, and heavy lint around the lint trap slot even after you clean it. Any one of these on its own is worth a look, and more than one means the vent needs attention soon.