What happens when your dryer vent is clogged?

Your dryer is an incredibly hardworking, impressive machine. When you load your wet laundry to be dried, the air is heated by elements in the dryer and passes through clothing to extract moisture. The hot air, moisture, and lint exit the machine via the dryer vent, so to be expelled outdoors.


But what happens if your dryer vent is clogged? First of all, your clothes will not dry properly. Because the moisture and hot air cannot escape, they return to the dryer, leaving clothes damp and hot. Second, your dryer exerts more energy, which wears it out faster, increasing the likelihood of replacement.


As your dryer works harder, energy costs start to pile up. It is estimated that a faulty dryer vent can increase energy expenses by as much as $300 a year.


If you’ve considered what happens inside your dryer, we’re talking about a ventilation system inside your dryer that pushes out the hot air. This air travels through the little removable lint trap (that you can take out and clean after every drying cycle), and then through what’s underneath that lint trap and the several feet of ventilation pipe that goes from the dryer to the outside. If you look outside your house, you’ll see a small pipe or vent that the hot dryer air escape those are the vents that require cleaning.

Dryer Vent Fire Prevention

A clogged dryer vent system makes a dryer work way too hard, which can overheat the heating element inside. Dirty dryer vents also accumulate lint, which can catch fire and result in more damage.


As you might know, lint catches fire pretty easily, since it is a combination of clothing fibers (usually cotton or polyester) and dust. When you combine this lint buildup with sweltering temperatures, the result is often a fire. .


According to the USCPSC (US Consumer Product Safety Commission), over 15,000 fires are ignited every year by clothing dryers. Lint and other types of debris can build up in the dryer vent, which reduces airflow to the dryer itself, which then backs up the dryer’s exhaust gases, creating a fire hazard.


To avoid this chain of unfortunate (and costly) we recommend that you seek professional dryer vent cleaning services. Midwest Home Services has over 20 years of experience in the cleaning dryer vents which helpn to save you money and help your machine run smoother and safer than ever.

How Do You Know the Dryer Vent Needs Cleaning?

Clothes dryer vents can become clogged and malfunction, regardless of the age and condition of your machine. Whether you’ve had the dryer for years or bought it recently, here are some signs to help you identify when it needs to be cleaned.

A standard indicator that your dryer vent is not at its best is when your clothes do not become dry in the usual time. Usually, clothing remains damp and hot after a regular cycle. This occurs when moisture and heated air cannot push past debris in the dryer vent and have no choice but to go back into the machine.

When hot air used to dry clothing has no outlet, it gets trapped inside the dryer and causes the exterior of the machine to become hot. This is not good because it wears out the heating element and the fan blowing the air out. Clothes can also become too hot to touch as well.

A vent opening with lint and debris on or around it is a good sign that you should have your dryer vent cleaned.

As mentioned above, dirty or blocked dryer vents can cause fires if not regularly inspected. If you notice an unusual burning smell, switch off the machine and do not use it until a technician has checked or made repairs.

If it has been a year or more since the last time you had the dryer vent cleaned, it is time for a checkup. In some homes, vents are easier to clean because they are more accessible. However, dryer vents in some properties are built into the wall and can be hard to reach. In either case, calling a professional is recommended.

What are the Benefits of Dryer Vent Cleaning?

There are important dryer vent cleaning benefits beyond having clean, dry clothes.

Cleaning vents routinely prevents fires. These fires can cause devastating damage to your machine as well as your home. In fact, homeowners who experience dryer vent fires can spend thousands on repairing damages alone. Fires also cause major injuries, health problems, and unfortunately, even deaths of loved ones and pets.

Dryer vent cleaning also helps increase the efficiency of  your dryer. Clean vents operate more efficiently and require less energy than clogged vents. Therefore,proper cleaning services can reduce energy and save you replacement costs by prolonging the life of the dryer.

Besides preventing life-threatening fires and conserving energy, dryer vent cleaning also saves you time by reducing drying times.

By cleaning the vents of your dryer, you ensure the dryer’s proper and efficient operation to help it live a long and productive life. By contrast, by making it work hard to chug through lint-clogged dryer ventilation, it can burn out the heating elements or fan much faster.

What Methods Does Midwest Home Services Use to Clean Dryer Vents?

At Midwest Home Services, we aim to provide premium dryer vent cleaning services by employing the best technicians and equipment. Our friendly professionals are highly qualified and able to handle all types of dryer vents both residential and commercial. 


Our technicians also work efficiently to get the job done as soon as possible. To ensure that we provide stellar service, our staff uses specially designed rods and brushes for a thorough clean. Our technicians are trained to provide the best results. 


How Does Midwest Home Services Differ from Other Services providers and pride ourselves in providing comprehensive and professional dryer vent cleaning services. At your request, Midwest Home Services provides experienced technicians to your property to provide proper dryer vent cleaning.


If your dryer vent is in desperate need of a clean, or you have a “safety first” concern, contact Midwest Home Services for professional, affordable and quick dryer vent cleaning at (612)724-1549, or click our convenient online scheduler today.