Short answer
If clothes need more than one cycle to dry, or the dryer and laundry room feel hot, lint is probably blocking the vent. Clean the lint filter before every load. Unplug the dryer and check the duct behind it for crushing or kinks. Outside, the vent flap should open while the dryer runs. Lint packed inside the duct needs a vent brush kit or a pro.
Safety first
A clogged dryer vent can start a fire. If you smell burning, stop the dryer and unplug it. If you see smoke or flames, get everyone out and call 911. With a gas dryer, do not pull it far from the wall or touch the gas line, and if you smell gas, leave and call the gas company from outside.
How to tell if your dryer vent is clogged
1Clothes still damp after a full cycle
When lint packs the vent, hot, wet air has nowhere to go. The dryer runs longer and gets hotter, and lint burns easily.
Read all the steps
- Clothes still damp after a full cycle. When lint packs the vent, hot, wet air has nowhere to go. The dryer runs longer and gets hotter, and lint burns easily.
- Clean the lint filter every load. Pull it out, roll the lint off with your fingers and slide it back in. Every load, before you start the dryer.
- Unplug it and check the duct. Pull the dryer out a little and look behind it. A crushed or kinked duct traps lint. Gas dryer: leave the gas line alone.
- Check the flap outside. With the dryer running, go outside to the vent. You should feel warm air and see the flap open. Little or no air means a clog.
- Clean the whole vent once a year. A dryer vent brush kit clears short, straight runs. Long runs, roof vents or lint packed tight are a job for a vent cleaning pro.
- Vent still blocked? Call a vent pro Especially if: the vent run is long, goes up through the roof or has several turns.
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Warning signs of a clogged vent
- Clothes need more than one cycle to dry.
- The top of the dryer or the clothes feel very hot.
- The laundry room gets hot or humid while the dryer runs.
- A burning smell, or lint around the outside vent or behind the dryer.
- The outside flap does not open when the dryer runs.
What not to do
- Do not run the dryer without the lint filter, or leave it running when you go out or go to bed.
- Do not use plastic or thin foil duct. Rigid or semi-rigid metal duct is safer; check your dryer manual.
- Do not push the dryer back so hard that the duct gets crushed.
- Do not dry rags with oil, gasoline or cleaning solvents on them: they can catch fire.
When to call a handyman
- The vent run is long, goes up through the roof or has several turns.
- You smell burning, or the dryer shuts off on its own from heat.
- Clothes still take two cycles after you cleaned the filter and checked the duct.
- Birds or pests nested in the outside vent, or the flap is broken.
- The whole vent line has not been cleaned in over a year.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my dryer vent is clogged?
Clothes take more than one cycle to dry, the dryer gets very hot, or little air comes out of the outside vent. A burning smell means stop and unplug it.
Can a clogged dryer vent cause a fire?
Yes. Lint burns easily, and a blocked vent traps heat around it. That is why the filter gets cleaned every load and the vent at least once a year.
How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
At least once a year, more often with a big family, pets or a long vent run. The lint filter, every single load.
Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
Short, straight runs, yes, with a dryer vent brush kit and the dryer unplugged. Long runs, roof vents or packed lint are safer with a pro who can clear the whole line.
Can a clogged dryer vent cause carbon monoxide?
With a gas dryer, yes: a blocked vent can push exhaust back into the home. Keep working CO alarms, and if one goes off, get out and call 911.
Why does my dryer take so long to dry?
Most often a full lint filter or a clogged vent. It can also be an overloaded drum or a worn heating part. Check the filter and the vent first.