Dryer Vent Cleaning in Camden, NJ
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It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make the lint stick
Every load sends warm, damp air down the vent and out. From December through February, that vent runs through a house sitting in nights that average 27°F. The warm air cools fast against the cold metal, and the moisture in it turns to dampness on the vent walls. Lint sticks to a damp wall a lot easier than it slides through a dry one.
That buildup narrows the vent a little more with each load. A duct that can't push air out fast enough backs moisture and heat up into the line, and a dryer working against a clogged vent runs hotter than it should.
- 27°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 7 months
- October through April, the vent stays cold
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- Clean it once a year at minimum, more often if you dry a lot of towels, bedding, or large loads. Lint builds up along the whole run, not just in the lint trap, and that buildup is what slows the dryer down and strains the heating element. A household that runs the dryer daily will see buildup faster than one that runs it a couple times a week.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the first few feet from the back of the dryer, but that is not the whole vent. Most runs travel through walls or up through a roof or wall cap, and a vacuum or brush from the dryer end will not reach a clog further down the line. A contractor with a full-length brush kit or camera can clear the entire run and check that the vent hood flap is opening all the way outside.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take more than one cycle to dry, a dryer that feels hot to the touch on the outside, and a burnt smell during the cycle are the clearest signs. Weak airflow at the outside vent hood is another. If the vent cap flap barely moves when the dryer is running, lint is likely blocking the path somewhere along the run.