Safety
How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
Once a year for a typical household, or every six months for larger families and homes with long or multi-turn duct runs. Clogged dryer vents are a well-documented fire cause and also make the dryer run longer, which raises energy use and shortens the appliance's life.
The short version
Once a year for a typical household, or every six months for larger families and homes with long or multi-turn duct runs. Clogged dryer vents are a well-documented fire cause and also make the dryer run longer, which raises energy use and shortens the appliance's life.
- Clothes taking two cycles to dry is the most common warning sign.
- A hot laundry room or a burning smell means service is overdue.
- Full-length brushing plus extraction cleans far better than a vacuum at the wall.
- Second-story and roof-terminated vents need specialist access equipment.
Related questions
- Can I clean a dryer vent myself?
- You can clear the first few feet, but most lint accumulates deep in the run and at the exterior termination, which needs full-length brushing and extraction.
- How long does dryer vent cleaning take?
- Usually one to two hours including airflow verification.
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