Dryer Vent Cleaning in Rapid City, SD
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents make the lint stick
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air every time it runs. Once that air hits the cold vent run, most of the year here, it cools fast. The moisture in it settles on the inside of the duct, and lint clings to those damp walls instead of blowing outside.
A vent that narrows this way makes the dryer push harder to move air through it. That means longer dry times, a dryer that runs hotter than it should, and lint sitting where a spark from the heating element can reach it.
- 13°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 9 months
- September through May, the vent stays cold
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- Once a year for most households. If you run large loads often, or the vent run to the outside is long with several bends, have it checked more than once a year. A vent that stays clear also lets your dryer put its heat into drying clothes instead of pushing against lint packed in the duct.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clear the first few feet behind the dryer and the outside hood yourself. A full cleaning reaches the entire duct, and most homes have bends or a run through the wall that a homeowner cannot see into or reach with a vacuum. A contractor uses a brush and rod sized to the duct that pulls lint out from the inside, not just the ends.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take two cycles to dry, a dryer that runs hot to the touch on the outside, and a musty smell when it runs are the clear signs. Check the outside vent hood too. If the flap barely moves or doesn't open when the dryer is on, lint is blocking the path, and a clogged vent makes the dryer work harder and shortens its life.