Proper maintenance of your dryer vent is crucial for safety, efficiency, and the life of your dryer. Failing to clean the exterior venting can cause fires, result in excessive drying time, and ruin your dryer. Therefore, routine exterior dryer vent cleaning is extremely important.

Buildup of lint in the vent tube and ducts causes multiple issues.Firstly, excess lint obstructs the air flow needed to properly work the dryer. This results in longer drying cycles and/or wet clothes at the end of dryer cycles. Furthermore, the overloaded vent cannot handle the required air flow, straining the motor and other components of the dryer. Over time, this additional strain shortens the life of the dryer.

Secondly, accumulated lint in exterior vents is an extreme fire hazard. The built-up lint can easily ignite from overheated vents and electrical components, potentially spreading inside the walls or throughout the home.

Finally, clogged vents compromise the efficiency of the dryer. Trapped moisture deteriorates insulation and other structural components inside walls around the vent. This causes damage over time and higher utility bills.

Dryer vents should be cleaned at least once per year to remove excess lint buildup. Professional cleanings are recommended because accumulation can be extensive and DIY cleanings may miss hard-to-reach areas of ducts and vent tubes.

Professional cleanings involve: inspecting all exterior venting parts to identify damages, thoroughly removing lint from entire vent system using specialized tools, sealing any openings and connections that could allow lint to reenter.

Even with regular cleanings, make these changes to reduce lint buildup:

Replace rigid vent tubes with flexible ones that absorb vibration and movement that loosens lint

Install lint filters or screens inside the vent tube to catch lint before it enters ducts

Clean interior dryer lint traps after every cycle to prevent lint from reaching the vent

Clean behind and around the dryer to avoid trapped lint that enters the vent when the dryer is running.

In summary, exterior dryer vent cleaning is an essential part of proper dryer maintenance that reduces fire hazards, makes clothes dry faster and extends the life of your dryer. Regular expert cleanings coupled with simple modifications to ventilation can help mitigate excess lint buildup that plagues exterior vents.