Dryer Vent Cleaning in West Memphis, AR
Tell us about your home, and a licensed contractor who covers Crittenden County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Cold vents catch more lint
Your dryer pushes out warm, damp air, and that air has to cool down before it reaches the outside. On a winter night in West Memphis, when the temperature outside is down around 34°F, that exhaust cools fast once it hits the vent. The moisture in it settles on the walls of the duct, and lint sticks to it instead of blowing on through.
That buildup narrows the vent a little more each time you run a load. Once it's blocked enough, the dryer takes longer to dry, and the heat it can't vent has nowhere to go but back into the house.
- 34°F
- the average winter night, and cold vents catch damp lint
- 5 months
- November through March, the vent stays cold
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- A good rule is once a year. If the dryer takes longer to dry a load than it used to, or the top of the dryer feels hot while running, don't wait for the year to be up. Lint builds up fastest in a vent that runs long or has several bends, so those vents need a look sooner.
- Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
- You can clean the lint trap and reach a few feet into the vent yourself, but the full run is a different job. Most vents bend through the wall and up or across before reaching outside, and lint collects at every turn. A shop vac and a brush from the inside won't reach those bends, and a contractor has rods and a camera to clear the whole length and check that the vent hood outside is flapping freely.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Clothes that need a second cycle to dry, a dryer that feels hot on top while running, and a burning smell are the main signs. Check the outside vent hood while the dryer runs. If you don't feel much air coming out, or the flap barely moves, lint is likely blocking the line somewhere between the dryer and the wall.