Clean the lint screen after every load (GE, CPSC). Inspect and clean the vent duct at least once a year: unplug the dryer, disconnect the duct from the back, vacuum it out, reconnect it, then check outside that the wall cap’s flap opens and nothing is nesting in it (GE). Failure to clean was the leading factor in home dryer fires from 2018 to 2020 (U.S. Fire Administration).
Clean the lint screen every load
- Pull the screen out and wipe the lint off with your fingers, after every load (GE). The CPSC says before or after each load.
- Wash it now and then in warm, soapy water to remove residue if you use fabric softener or an anti-static conditioner (GE). The USFA also suggests cleaning it with a nylon brush at least every 6 months.
- Clean the opening it slides into: unplug the dryer first, then use an appliance brush or a vacuum hose (GE).
- Never run the dryer without the screen, or with one that is loose, damaged or clogged (USFA).
How to clean the dryer vent
GE recommends inspecting and cleaning the exhaust duct at least once a year. A partly clogged vent makes drying take longer, and heavy lint is a fire hazard (GE).
- Unplug the dryer from the wall outlet (GE).
- Disconnect the duct from the back of the dryer (GE, CPSC).
- Vacuum the duct with a vacuum hose attachment, or clean it with an appliance brush (GE).
- Look for damage: the duct behind the dryer shouldn’t be kinked, crushed or collapsed (GE, USFA).
- Reconnect the duct to the dryer and the outside vent before you use the dryer again (CPSC).
- Check the wall cap outside. With the dryer running, the flap should open and you should feel strong airflow. Make sure no birds, mice or insects are nesting in the duct or hood, and that snow and ice aren’t blocking it (GE).
Weak airflow at the wall cap usually means the duct is still blocked; a duct cleaning service can clear long or hidden runs (GE). The CPSC also recommends having a qualified service person clean the inside of the dryer cabinet periodically, to keep lint from building up.
Signs your dryer vent is clogged
- Clothes are still damp at the end of a normal cycle, or drying takes longer than it used to (CPSC, GE).
- Heavy loads take a long time to dry, or clothes feel hotter than usual at the end of the cycle (USFA).
- The dryer is hot to the touch or “sweats” because it can’t get rid of heat and moisture (GE).
- Little or no air comes out of the outside vent while the dryer runs (CPSC, GE).
- Some GE dryers show a Check Vent alert.
The right duct
- Metal only. Rigid metal is preferred; UL-listed flexible metal is allowed. Replace white plastic or foil accordion duct: it can kink and collapse, trap lint and has caused fires (GE, CPSC, USFA).
- 4-inch round, the size GE allows: larger ducts slow the air and let lint settle.
- Short. Codes limit the total run to 35 feet, less when it has turns, and the flexible transition duct behind the dryer to 8 feet (USFA). Your dryer’s installation instructions give its own limit, tighter for gas dryers (GE).
- Outside, through a cap that opens and closes, with no screen or grid over it, which collects lint (GE, USFA). Never into an attic, crawl space, chimney or wall (GE, USFA).
Don’t run a gas dryer without its vent connected: carbon monoxide could enter the room (GE). The USFA suggests a professional inspection of gas dryers once a year.
Why it matters
U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in homes and other residential buildings each year from 2008 to 2010, causing about 5 deaths, 100 injuries and $35 million in losses. Dust, fiber and lint were the item most often ignited first, and dryer fires were most common in fall and winter, peaking in January (U.S. Fire Administration). Failure to clean was still the leading factor in 2018–2020, at 31 percent (U.S. Fire Administration).
The CPSC adds a warning for clothes stained with gasoline, cooking oil, cleaning agents or finishing oils: wash them more than once and preferably hang them to dry; if you must use the dryer, use the lowest heat and a cycle with a cool-down, and don’t leave dried clothes piled in the dryer or a basket.
Questions people ask
How often should you clean your dryer vent?
Inspect and clean the duct at least once a year (GE), and the lint screen after every load (GE, CPSC). Check sooner if drying takes longer than usual (CPSC).
Can I clean my dryer vent myself?
Yes: GE’s steps are to unplug the dryer, disconnect the duct, vacuum it and reconnect it, then check the wall cap outside. For long or hidden runs, a duct cleaning service can do it (GE).
What happens if you don’t clean your dryer vent?
Lint blocks the airflow, the dryer overheats, and lint can catch fire (CPSC). Failure to clean is the leading factor in home dryer fires (U.S. Fire Administration).
Is foil dryer vent hose safe?
The CPSC and the USFA say to replace plastic or foil accordion duct with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal. GE allows UL-listed foil only under strict conditions, 8 feet or less.
Why does my dryer take so long to dry?
A blocked lint screen or exhaust duct is a common reason (CPSC, GE). Clean both and check the airflow at the wall cap.
Sources
- GE Appliances, Dryer - How to Clean Exhaust / Vent Duct, How to Clean Lint Filter, Things To Check For A Venting Issue and Installation Information for Exhaust Ducting: once a year; the cleaning steps; lint screen care; signs of poor airflow; metal, 4-inch duct; wall cap; gas dryer warning.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires (Publication 5022): lint screen before or after each load; damp clothes as a warning sign; cleaning and reconnecting the duct; checking the outside vent; metal duct; clothes soiled with volatile chemicals.
- U.S. Fire Administration, Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008–2010) (Topical Fire Report Series, Vol. 13, Issue 7, 2012): 2,900 fires a year; January peak; items first ignited; venting codes (35 feet, 8-foot transition duct); dos and don’ts.
- U.S. Fire Administration, Appliance and electrical fire safety: failure to clean, 31 percent of home dryer fires in 2018–2020 (National Fire Incident Reporting System).