Dryer Vent Cleaning in Glassboro, NJ
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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. From October through April, that air is moving through a vent that sits in cold space, and on a winter night here it can be sitting in air near 28 degrees. The warm air cools fast against those cold walls, and the moisture in it turns to dampness on the inside of the vent. Lint sticks to a damp wall instead of blowing through to the outside.
That buildup narrows the vent a little more each time the dryer runs. Air moves slower, drying takes longer, and the lint sitting in there is exactly what a dryer fire needs.
- 28°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?
- Once a year is the standard advice for most households. If you run large loads often, or you have pets that shed, check it more than once a year. A vent that stays clear also lowers the risk of a dryer fire, since lint is what catches.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the lint trap and the first few feet of duct behind the dryer yourself. A vent brush kit reaches further than your hand or a vacuum hose can. The part most people miss is the run through the wall and out to the exterior hood, and that stretch is where lint tends to pack tightest. If your vent run is long, has bends, or you cannot reach the outside hood safely, a contractor has the tools to clear the whole line and check that the hood flap opens and closes the way it should.
- 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 are the clearest signs. Check the outside vent hood too. If the flap barely moves or no air comes out when the dryer runs, lint is blocking the line. A musty smell in the laundry room can mean moisture is backing up into the vent instead of venting outside.