Dryer Vent Cleaning in Springfield, MA
Tell us about your home, and a licensed contractor who covers Hampden County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents give lint a place to stick
Every load sends warm, damp air out through the vent. On a night that averages 19°F, that air cools fast once it hits the metal duct, and the moisture it's carrying settles on the walls of the vent. Lint sticks to a damp surface far more than it does to a dry one, so the buildup collects faster on the stretch of vent that runs through the cold part of the house.
Once that lint packs in, the dryer has to push air through a narrower path. It runs hotter and takes longer to dry a load, and the extra heat has nowhere to go but back into the vent.
- 19°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 is the standard most contractors work to. If you dry a lot of loads, run a longer duct, or notice drying times creeping up, check it sooner. A vent that runs clean all year still catches lint at the bends and at the outside hood, and that buildup only grows between cleanings.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can handle the lint trap and the first few feet behind the dryer with a vent brush kit. What you cannot see is the rest of the run, especially if it goes up through a wall or across an attic before it reaches the outside hood. A contractor uses a longer rod and a camera to clear the whole line and check that the hood flap opens all the way, since a flap that sticks blocks the vent no matter how clean the rest of the duct is.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that take two cycles to dry, a dryer that runs hot to the touch, or a burnt smell partway through a load. Check the outside hood too. If the flap barely moves when the dryer is running, air is not getting out and lint is building up somewhere in the line. A bent or dented hood can cause the same problem, so it is worth a look after any storm with strong wind.