Dryer Vent Cleaning in Indianola, IA
Tell us about your home, and a licensed contractor who covers Warren County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
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 that sits in cold space, and on a night near 17 degrees, the vent wall is cold enough to cool that air fast. Moisture drops out of it, and the lint riding along in the exhaust sticks to the damp walls instead of blowing outside.
Over a winter that runs from October through May, that buildup adds up layer by layer. A narrowed vent forces the dryer to push harder to move air, and a blocked one can trap heat and lint together right where the exhaust leaves the house.
- 17°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 8 months
- October through May, the vent stays cold
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- Once a year, as a rule. Lint builds up along the whole run, not just at the ends, and a year is usually long enough for it to become a fire risk. If loads start taking longer to dry before the year is up, check it sooner instead of waiting.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the part you can reach, but that is usually not the whole vent. Pulling the dryer out and vacuuming behind it, and clearing lint from the exterior hood, helps. The trouble spots are further down the line, especially at bends, and those need a vent brush kit run the full length or a contractor with the right tools to do it properly.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take two cycles to dry, a dryer that runs hot to the touch, and a burning smell are the main ones. You might also notice less airflow at the outside vent hood when the dryer is running, or lint collecting around the hood flap instead of blowing clear. Any of these on their own is worth looking into, and a burning smell means shut the dryer off and check it right away.