Insured · Phoenix metro service area

Hours vary

Proof Vent & Duct
Menu

Is my dryer vent clogged?

Answer nine questions about your dryer. They come from the checks the Consumer Product Safety Commission publishes, and the result tells you what to do next. It takes about two minutes and saves nothing.

  1. 1. Do you smell something burning when the dryer runs?

    If yes, stop using the dryer.

  2. 2. Are clothes still damp at the end of a normal cycle, so you run a second one?

    The CPSC names this as a sign the lint screen or exhaust duct may be blocked.

  3. 3. Does drying take longer than it used to?
  4. 4. With the dryer running, is little or no air coming out of the outside vent, or is the flap barely moving?

    Go outside and check while a load runs. If you have not checked, answer "not sure" and go look.

  5. 5. Does the laundry room or the hall outside it get hot or humid while the dryer runs?
  6. 6. Does the dryer shut off or get very hot before the clothes are dry?
  7. 7. Do you see lint around the outside vent hood, or a flap that is stuck or propped open?
  8. 8. Have you seen birds at the vent hood or roof cap, or heard them in the wall?
  9. 9. Has it been more than a year since the vent was cleaned, or do you not know?

Answer every question to see your result.

What to do with the result

Start with the free checks: the lint screen, the hose behind the dryer and the outside flap. The DIY guide covers them, and the dryer fire prevention checklist lists what the federal agencies recommend.

If the signs are clear, book the dryer vent cleaning. If your laundry room is upstairs, see where the duct goes and which price applies. If you would rather know first, a camera inspection and airflow test is $89.

Sources

Questions about the checklist

How accurate is this checklist?
It is a checklist, not a diagnosis. It turns the checks the CPSC and USFA publish into questions and tells you what to do next. The only way to know what is inside the duct is an airflow reading and a camera.
What is the single most reliable sign?
Clothes that are still damp after a normal cycle. The CPSC says this, or drying that takes longer than normal, may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.
How do I check the outside vent?
Start a load, go outside to the vent hood or roof cap, and check that exhaust air is coming out and the flap opens. Both the CPSC and the USFA give this check. If air barely moves, the duct may be blocked.
What should I do if I smell burning?
Stop using the dryer until the vent has been checked. If you see smoke or flames, leave the house and call 911.
Is this quiz storing my answers?
No. It runs in your browser, saves nothing and sends nothing.
What does cleaning cost?
A standard wall exit is $129. A roof or second-floor exit is $179. A camera inspection and airflow test is $89. The technician confirms the exit before work starts.

Get my exact price

Or call (623) 777-8504. 90-day guarantee on every job.

Get my exact price Call (623) 777-8504 Text us
Call Text Get price