A home appliance that many homeowners take for granted is the clothes dryer. We toss our garments in, hit start, and off it goes. But behind the scenes, the dryer vent and ductwork can quietly accumulate lint and debris, creating issues beyond inefficient drying. At The Ductibles, we strongly recommend including dryer-vent cleaning as part of your home maintenance schedule. Here’s why.
The risks of a clogged dryer vent
- Fire hazard: Lint is highly flammable. When a vent is blocked, heat and lint can build up, dramatically increasing fire risk.
- Inefficiency: A restricted vent means longer drying cycles, more energy usage, and more wear on your dryer.
- Excess moisture: If the vent isn’t exhausting properly, moisture can build up in your laundry area, potentially leading to mould or mildew.
- Shorter appliance life: The dryer has to work harder and hotter to achieve the same result, so it may wear out sooner or need more repairs.
What a proper dryer-vent cleaning involves
- A full inspection of the vent from the dryer to the exterior termination point: checking for blockages, damage, or improper slope.
- Removal of lint and debris build-up throughout the vent length (not just at the dryer connection).
- Verifying the exterior vent cap or hood is clear and functioning (so hot air and moisture can escape freely).
- Checking for signs of vent collapse, disconnection, or non-compliant vent material (which can all impair airflow).
- Providing recommendations or corrective action if any issues are found.
How often to clean?
- At minimum: once every 1-2 years if you use your dryer regularly.
- More often: if you have a large household, heavy loads, or notice longer drying times or increased lint around the vent or dryer.
- Definitely before resale or major home maintenance—clean vents support safe operation and underscore your due diligence.
Why choose The Ductibles
- We’re NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association-recognized for our duct and vent cleaning processes. nadca.com+1
- We bundle services (including vent-cleaning add-ons) so you can combine dryer-vent cleaning with duct and furnace tune-up for better value.
- We provide transparent reporting and ensure you know exactly what work was performed and why.
Wrap-up
Don’t ignore the dryer vent—it’s often out-of-sight and therefore out-of-mind, but the risks are real. If you haven’t had a dryer-vent inspection or cleaning recently, now’s a good time to book one. Let us help you keep your laundry area safe, efficient and ready for the long term.
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