The short answer
If towels take two cycles to dry in your Northern Virginia home, the dryer probably isn’t broken. The vent is clogged. Hot, wet air can’t get out, so the clothes sit in it. And a clogged vent isn’t only slow: failing to clean it is the leading factor in home dryer fires.
The part most people don’t know
The US Fire Administration’s dryer fire report says it straight: if jeans or towels take a long time to dry, or clothes feel hotter than usual after a cycle, the vent is probably clogged. The same report counted about 2,900 dryer fires in homes every year, and failure to clean was the leading factor, at 34 percent. Dust, fiber and lint were the first thing to catch fire in 28 percent of them, and dryer fires peaked in January, at 11 percent of the year. That report covers 2008 to 2010; USFA’s newer page still puts failure to clean at 31 percent.
Here’s the part that should make you stop. When the Consumer Product Safety Commission tested dryers with the vent 75 or 100 percent blocked, the dryers kept running, cycling on and off their high-limit safety thermostat, and the temperature near the heater climbed significantly. CPSC found lint can build up inside the dryer itself even with a proper duct and a clean lint screen, and that lint can catch fire on the heating element or its housing. Longer cycles or damp clothes may be the only sign you get.
Long, twisting duct runs make it worse. GE says a partially clogged vent makes drying take longer, and the Department of Energy’s dryer vent guide says long runs or too many bends create a fire hazard and stretch out drying time.
The $199 Dryer Vent Cleaning
Dryer vent cleaning is $199, normally $298, with a year of Comfort+ membership included. See the membership
What you can check yourself
- Go outside while the dryer runs. The flap on the vent hood should open and you should feel warm air. USFA says bird and animal nests can block it, and NFPA says keep snow off the flap.
- Clean the lint screen after every load. Dryer sheets leave a film on it that cuts airflow, so ENERGY STAR says scrub it with a toothbrush every month.
- Look at the duct behind the dryer. LG says never vent a dryer through plastic or thin foil duct, and NFPA says use rigid or flexible metal.
- Count the bends. The model residential code caps a dryer duct at 35 feet, and every bend eats into that: a sharp 90 degree elbow counts as 5 feet and a 45 as 2 feet 6 inches, unless the dryer maker’s instructions set a different limit. The flexible connector behind the dryer can’t be longer than 8 feet or hidden in a wall, and screws can’t poke more than 1/8 inch into the duct, where they catch lint.
How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
NFPA says have the vent cleaned once a year, or more often if drying takes longer than normal. GE says at least once a year too. Some HOAs require it on a schedule; here’s the Ashburn HOA dryer vent requirement.
What we check
Our dryer vent cleaning is $199, normally $298, and it comes with a year of Comfort+ membership included. The year also covers a water heater flush with a sewer camera inspection, two heating and cooling maintenance visits and 15% off any service.
Furnace or water heater flashing a code? Our error codes and warning lights guide covers what each one means.
Book it
Book the dryer vent cleaning, call (703) 997-9757, or book online from goswiftpro.com/cookiesoffer and a box of warm cookies comes with the visit. Rated 5.0 stars across 1,138 reviews on Google, Angi, Yelp, the BBB and Facebook, Virginia Class A license 2705192276.
Questions people ask
Why is my dryer taking so long to dry clothes?
Most often the vent is clogged with lint, so hot, wet air can’t get out. USFA says jeans or towels taking a long time to dry, or clothes coming out hotter than usual, point at a clogged vent.
Can a clogged dryer vent cause a fire?
Yes. USFA found failure to clean is the leading factor in dryer fires, and CPSC testing showed a blocked vent makes the dryer run hotter near the heater, where lint can ignite.
How often should I clean my dryer vent?
NFPA and GE both say at least once a year, and more often if drying starts taking longer than normal. Clean the lint screen after every load.
What kind of dryer duct is safe?
Metal. LG says never use plastic or thin foil duct, and NFPA says rigid or flexible metal. The model code caps the duct at 35 feet, less for every bend.
