Your dryer vent is likely clogged if clothes need more than one cycle to dry, the dryer or the clothes feel unusually hot, you notice a burning smell, or the outside vent flap barely opens. Lint in the vent pipe is very flammable, and not cleaning it is a leading cause of home dryer fires. Have the vent cleaned once a year, and clean the lint trap after every load.
Key takeaways
- Not cleaning the vent is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
- The lint trap catches most lint, but not all of it. The rest builds up in the vent pipe and outside hood.
- Clean the vent every year. Clean it more often for large families, long vent runs, or roof and second-floor exits.
- In Calgary winters, check the outside hood for frost, ice and snow drifts that can block airflow.
Why dryer vents are a fire risk
Every load sends warm, moist, lint-filled air through the vent pipe to the outside. The lint trap catches most of the lint, but not all of it. Over months, lint coats the inside of the pipe, gathers at bends, and collects behind the outside flap. As the pipe narrows, the dryer runs hotter and longer. Hot air plus a flammable fuel is how dryer fires start.
The U.S. Fire Administration estimates about 2,900 home clothes dryer fires a year in the United States and names failure to clean as the leading cause. The same risk applies to any Canadian home with a dryer.
7 warning signs of a clogged dryer vent
- Clothes need more than one cycle. This is the most common early sign. Moist air can't escape, so the clothes stay damp.
- The dryer or clothes are very hot to the touch. Heat that can't escape stays in the drum and cabinet.
- A burning or musty smell. Burning means lint is getting too hot. Musty means moisture is trapped in the vent. Stop using the dryer and get the vent checked.
- Lint around the door seal or behind the dryer. When the vent is blocked, lint is pushed out wherever it can escape.
- The outside flap barely opens. Go outside while the dryer runs. You should feel strong, warm airflow. A weak puff, or no air at all, means a blockage.
- A humid, warm laundry room. Moisture that should go outside is leaking into the room.
- It has been more than a year, or you have never cleaned it. Many homes in Calgary and Airdrie have never had the vent cleaned since the house was built.
What a Calgary winter does to your dryer vent
Alberta winters cause dryer vent problems that people in milder places don't deal with:
- Frost and ice on the outside hood. Warm, moist exhaust meets −20 °C air and freezes on the flap, which can jam it partly closed.
- Snow drifts. Vents low on a wall, or on the side of the house that gets drifting snow, can be buried after a storm. Clear the snow from around the hood.
- Long runs in newer homes. Second-floor laundry rooms, common in newer Calgary and Airdrie builds, often have long vent runs with several bends, or exit through the roof. Lint builds up faster in these, and they are hard to clean yourself.
- Birds and nests. In spring, birds like to nest in warm vent openings. A missing or broken guard lets them in.
How to keep your dryer vent safe between cleanings
- Clean the lint trap after every load. Wash it with soap and water every few months if you use dryer sheets, which leave a film on the screen.
- Use a rigid or semi-rigid metal transition duct behind the dryer. Do not use thin plastic or foil accordion hose; it crushes easily and traps lint.
- Keep the area around and behind the dryer clear of lint, boxes and clothes.
- Don't run the dryer when you are asleep or away from home.
- Check the outside hood once a month in winter for ice and snow.
How we clean a dryer vent
We disconnect the dryer, run a rotary brush through the whole vent line from inside to the outside hood, pull the loosened lint out with strong suction, clean the transition duct and the area around the lint trap, then reconnect and check airflow at the outside hood. Our Complete Care ($249) package also includes cleaning inside the dryer. See all packages, or read about our residential and commercial dryer vent cleaning. Laundromats, salons, hotels and apartment buildings need it more often.
Booking your yearly maintenance anyway? Here is the full home air maintenance schedule for Alberta.
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Frequently asked questions
How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
At least once a year. Clean it more often if you do a lot of laundry, have pets, or have a long vent run, such as a vent that exits through the roof or from a second-floor laundry room.
Can a clogged dryer vent cause a fire?
Yes. Lint is very flammable, and a blocked vent traps heat inside the dryer and vent pipe. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that failure to clean is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.
Why does my dryer take two cycles to dry clothes?
The most common reason is restricted airflow from lint in the vent pipe or a blocked outside vent hood. Moist air can't escape, so the clothes stay damp. Check the outside flap while the dryer runs; if very little air is coming out, the vent needs cleaning.
Is dryer vent cleaning included in your packages?
Our Complete Care package ($249) includes cleaning inside the dryer. Dryer vent cleaning is also available as a service on its own. Call (403) 690-5039 for a quote.
Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
You can clean the lint trap, the area around it, and a short, easy-to-reach vent with a brush kit. For long runs, vents with several bends, or roof and second-floor exits, a professional cleaning with a rotary brush and strong suction clears the whole line safely.
