Tips & Guides
The simple schedule, the warning signs, and why winter is when it matters most.
Short answer: at least once a year for most homes. Busy households, homes with pets, and homes with long vent runs often need it every 6 to 9 months.
Your lint trap catches most of the lint, but not all of it. With every load, a little slips past and settles inside the vent line between the dryer and the outside wall. Over months it narrows the duct, traps heat, and makes the dryer work harder. The U.S. Fire Administration lists failure to clean as the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.
If a normal load needs a second cycle, air can't escape through the vent fast enough. This is usually the first sign.
Heat that can't leave through the vent builds up in the dryer and the room around it.
A hot or burning smell while the dryer runs can mean lint is overheating. Stop using the dryer until the vent is checked.
Lint around the door seal, behind the dryer, or around the outside vent cap means there's buildup inside the line.
With the dryer running, the flap on the outside vent should push open. If it barely moves, the airflow is blocked.
In Bartlett and the northwest suburbs, dryers run more in the colder months: heavier clothes, more towels and bedding, and less line drying. More loads mean faster buildup, which is why late fall and winter are a smart time for a cleaning if it's been a year or more.
You can clean the lint trap after every load and vacuum behind the dryer, and you should. Store-bought brush kits reach only part of the line, though, and most clogs sit in the middle of long runs or at bends. A professional cleaning covers the full length from the dryer to the outside cap. See what's included in our residential dryer vent cleaning.
Common Questions
At least once a year for most homes. Large households, homes with pets, and homes with long or bendy vent runs often need it every 6 to 9 months.
No. The lint trap catches most lint, but some always passes through and builds up inside the vent line, where you can't see or reach it.
Yes. A blocked vent on a gas dryer can also push exhaust, including carbon monoxide, back into the home, so cleaning it matters even more.
Usually. A clear vent lets the dryer finish loads in fewer minutes, so it runs less and wears out more slowly.