Lint doesn’t just collect in the trap you clean out after every load. It builds up through the full length of the duct — behind the wall, through the run to the outside vent — and the trap only catches a fraction of what actually passes through.
What lint buildup does
As lint accumulates, airflow through the duct narrows. The dryer has to work harder to push the same amount of air, which shows up as longer drying times and a dryer that runs hotter than it should. That restricted airflow is also the underlying reason dryer vents are treated as a fire-risk item to maintain — heat has less way to escape.
Signs the duct needs attention:
- Clothes take noticeably longer to dry than they used to
- The dryer or the room it’s in gets unusually hot during a cycle
- A burning smell during use
- The outside vent flap barely moves when the dryer’s running
How often to clean it
Once a year is the general rule for a typical household. Larger households, longer duct runs, or a duct with more bends than usual will accumulate lint faster and may need it more often.
Why a professional does more than the trap-level clean
A professional cleaning covers the full run — the vent behind the machine, the duct through the wall, and the exterior exhaust point — using equipment that gets debris out of the ductwork rather than just the accessible ends. It’s also a chance to check the vent run itself for damage, poor connections, or a duct that’s been crushed behind the machine, since any of those restrict airflow on their own.
If it’s been a while since yours was checked, dryer vent cleaning is one of ours — get in touch for an estimate.