Every Memphis fire department has a story about a house fire that started in the laundry room. The National Fire Protection Association estimates U.S. fire departments respond to roughly 13,000 home fires involving clothes dryers every year — and the leading single cause is failure to clean the dryer. This is one of those chores that’s easy to skip and a really, really bad one to skip.
The lint trap: every load. Yes, every single one. The full vent line from the back of the dryer to the outside of the house: at least once a year for a normal household; twice a year if you have pets that shed, a big family, or a long vent run.
Clothes take more than one cycle to dry. The top of the dryer feels unusually hot to the touch during a cycle. The outside vent flap barely opens when the dryer runs. There’s a musty or burning smell during operation. The lint trap looks fine but lint keeps showing up on your clothes. Any of these, and you’re overdue.
For the lint trap, definitely. For the vent line, partially — you can disconnect the back of the dryer and use a vent-cleaning brush kit (about $30 at any hardware store) to clear the first several feet. For longer or more complex vent runs — especially anything that goes up through the roof — a professional has the right tools and won’t damage the duct.
If we’re on a dryer repair call and it’s been a while since the vent was cleaned, we’ll usually do it as part of the visit. The repair will last longer if the dryer isn’t fighting a clogged vent the whole time.
A clear vent dries clothes in one cycle instead of two. Multiply that across a year of laundry and the savings on your power bill are real.
Our techs in Memphis can usually tell from your description whether it’s a quick fix or a real repair. Either way, you’ll get a straight answer.
