Time to Check Your Dryer Vent

Every time I use my dryer, I clean out the lint screen. Unfortunately, not all the lint is captured there, according to Doug Francone, owner and President of DUCTZ of Walnut Creek and the Tri-Valley. Some of it slips into the duct that’s used to move the hot, moist air from the dryer to the outside. Over time that lint builds up.

When that venting line gets clogged, your dryer has to work a little harder. It might take 2 hours to dry a load that used to take 45 minutes. Besides wasting energy, you’ll wear out your dryer sooner. A more serious problem is that clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of home fires. If you aren’t sure how to clean the vent, get a professional to do it, especially if the line has a lot of turns in it. They use special brushes and high-pressure air-lines to push or pull all the lint out.