What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Dryer Vents?

When you are knocking off the laundry chore by running multiple loads of clean wet clothes through the dryer don’t forget about the dryer vents. It’s so easy to focus only on achieving fresh clean clothes to wear, while neglecting dryer vent cleaning in the process. Know what happens when you don’t clean your dryer vents and you will likely not forget to clean them. 

The repercussions of neglecting dryer vent cleaning can go from bad to worse. Initially you will notice your clothes taking longer to dry.  It’s such a waste of time when the dryer is not functioning as it should. You will end up working longer to check off the laundry chore from your “to-do” list.  If you are waiting for those jeans to dry before you rush out of the house, it will be especially annoying. Quit screwing around with clothes that won’t dry soon enough by cleaning the lint trap after every load. You will be amazed with how much lint some loads produce. Extra lint in the trap will consume more energy to operate the dryer causing higher utility bills.

Problems are compounded when the dryer pushes lint from the trap into the dryer vents.  Eventually the ductwork, which moves dryer air to the outside, becomes coated with a thick layer of lint.  At this point you will need a professional dryer vent cleaning service to keep the vents from overheating.  Overheated dryer vents lined with lint (fuel) will create a fire hazard.  

After a while, the longer drying times caused by clogged dryer vents will wear out the heating element. Spending less money for a timely dryer vent cleaning service will save you from paying for a service call with a pricey dryer element replacement cost. Like many home maintenance projects, dryer vent cleaning will save money on energy bills and repairs or replacements.  Dryer vent cleaning is even safer for your fabrics.  

Home safety is the number one reason for dryer vent cleaning .  Dryer vent cleaning will protect your dryer and home from catching fire.   

The U.S. Fire Administration, who offers fire prevention tips for public education, reports that dryer vents cause around 2,900 dryer fires per year. How? A dryer uses hot air to dry clothes and the hot air is moved out through the vents. When lint, which becomes highly combustible, flows through the dryer and accumulates in the vents, it will reduce airflow and cause a fire hazard. Many dryer vent fires could have been prevented with dryer vent cleaning.  Remove the fuel, remove the hazard. 

In addition to cleaning the lint trap after every load, it is recommended to check the back of the dryer where lint can build up. Also the lint pipe should be cleaned every three months and a professional dryer vent cleaning service should clean the dryer vent system at least once a year, depending upon how much the dryer is used.  Interesting enough, most of the dryer vent fires happen in the fall and winter months with the most happening in January.  

I know, dryer vents are seldom on your mind when doing the laundry, but now you know how important it is to keep them clean.  Your dryer vents should be cleaned at LEAST once a year.  If you see signs of a clogged dryer vent or the dryer is taking too long to dry the clothes, contact a professional dryer vent cleaning service ASAP.   


When you need a dryer vent cleaning service, contact Precise Duct Cleaning Inc. You will find our dryer vent cleaning cost to be competitive and well worth the savings it will provide. Our technicians will remove all the lint, dirt, and debris from your dryer vent system making your dryer efficient, safe and more economical per use.