Signs your dryer vent is clogged

What to look for

1. Clothes need two cycles to dry. Air that cannot leave the drum keeps moisture in the load.
2. The dryer or the clothes are very hot to the touch. Heat builds up when the exhaust is blocked.
3. A burning or musty smell while the dryer runs.
4. The flap on the outside hood barely opens while the dryer is on, or there is lint around the hood.
5. The laundry room feels humid or the window fogs during a load.
6. It has been more than a year since the vent was cleaned, or you do not know when it last was.

Why it matters

The U.S. Fire Administration counts about 2,900 home clothes dryer fires reported each year. Failure to clean is the leading cause, behind 34% of them, and fires peak in January, when dryers run more and windows stay shut.

A quick check you can do

Run the dryer on high, step outside and hold your hand in front of the vent hood. You should feel a strong, warm stream of air and see the flap fully open. A weak, barely warm flow means the duct is restricted. Our airflow meter puts a number on it, before and after.

What not to do

• Do not run a leaf blower into the duct from inside: it can blow joints apart inside walls.
• Do not move a gas dryer yourself. If the gas connection needs to be disturbed, call a licensed gas fitter.