If your dryer is taking two or three cycles to dry a normal load, the dryer usually isn’t the problem. Nine times out of ten, it’s the vent. A dryer works by pushing hot, wet air out of the house. When the vent is packed with lint, that wet air has nowhere to go, so your clothes sit in it and stay damp.
The Most Common Causes
- A clogged dryer vent. Lint gets past the lint trap and builds up inside the vent over time, especially in long runs and at every turn.
- A crushed or kinked hose behind the dryer. Pushing the dryer back against the wall can flatten the flexible hose and choke the airflow.
- A blocked outside vent. Lint, nests or a stuck flap at the outside wall or roof can stop air from leaving.
- Overloading. Very large loads take longer, but if normal loads take multiple cycles, look at the vent.
- A dryer problem. A failing heating element or thermostat can cause it too. If the dryer isn’t getting warm at all, that points to the dryer, not the vent.
A Quick Test You Can Do
Turn the dryer on and go outside to where the vent exits. You should feel strong, warm air pushing out, and the flap should open wide. If the airflow is weak or the flap barely moves, the vent is restricted.
Why It Matters
Extra cycles waste electricity or gas and wear out your dryer. More importantly, lint is very flammable, and clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of home dryer fires. If your dryer is taking multiple cycles, don’t wait on it.
How Often Should a Dryer Vent Be Cleaned?
About once a year for most homes. Big families, long vent runs and vents with several turns need it more often.
Get Your Dryer Vent Cleaned in NJ
Duct Dudes cleans the entire dryer vent run, inside to outside, roof vents included. Most New Jersey homes are $175–$250 and take about an hour, and we test the airflow before we leave. If your dryer still isn’t drying because of poor airflow, we come back and make it right.
Call (732) 899-0400 or get a free quote. Learn more about residential dryer vent cleaning or find your town on our service area page.