From the back of the dryer to the outside hood

Dryer Vent Cleaning in McKinney, TX

Unlike duct cleaning, this one has a plain safety case. A dryer makes lint with every load, the vent is where it goes, and a vent that is never cleaned fills up.

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Why it matters

What the Fire Data Says

"An estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss." "Failure to clean (34 percent) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition."
U.S. Fire Administration, Topical Fire Report Series, Volume 13, Issue 7, August 2012 (data from 2008 to 2010)

The report is more than a decade old and the figures are national. The mechanism has not changed: lint burns, and a dryer is a heat source blowing air through it.

Three parts

What Gets Cleaned

Behind the dryer

The short flexible connector between the machine and the wall. It gets crushed when the dryer is pushed back, and it is where a blockage most often starts.

Inside the wall or ceiling

The rigid duct that carries air to the outside. Rotating brushes on rods are worked through its full length while air or a vacuum moves the lint out.

Outside

The hood on the wall or the cap on the roof. The flap is freed, lint and nests are cleared, and airflow is checked with the dryer running.

When to do it

Five Signs the Vent Is Filling Up

A normal load needs a second cycle.
The top of the dryer or the laundry room is hotter than it used to be.
The flap on the outside hood barely moves when the dryer is on.
Lint is collecting around the outside hood or behind the machine.
There is a hot or scorched smell. Stop using the dryer if so.

The first of those has its own page: dryer takes too long.

Price

What the Guides Say It Costs

HomeGuide's national figures put dryer vent cleaning at $80 to $185 on average, $150 to $250 where the vent exits through the roof, and $120 to $250 more if a bird nest has to come out. Those are not McKinney quotes. See what it costs.

Dryer Vent Questions

How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?

One national cost guide says most homes need it once a year. Heavy use, a long run or a roof exit are reasons to do it sooner. Longer drying times are the usual warning.

Is cleaning the lint screen enough?

No. The screen catches part of the lint. The rest goes into the vent, and what does not make it outside builds up along the way.

Should there be a screen over the outside of the vent?

A mesh screen over the outlet catches lint and blocks the vent. A hood with a flap, or a guard made for dryer vents, keeps birds out without doing that.

Dryer Vent Never Been Cleaned?

Say where it exits the house, if you know, and how long loads are taking.

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