The lint screen catches most lint, but not all of it. The rest builds up inside the vent line between your dryer and the outside wall or roof.
Why it's a fire risk
Lint is very flammable. As it builds up, hot air can't escape, the dryer runs hotter, and the lint sits right in the path of that heat. The U.S. Fire Administration dryer safety flyer names failure to clean as a leading cause of home dryer fires.
Warning signs
- Clothes still damp after a full cycle
- The dryer or laundry room gets very hot
- A burning smell while the dryer runs
- Lint around the outside vent flap
- The outside flap barely opens
What you can do
- Clean the lint screen before or after every load.
- Don't run the dryer when you leave the house or go to bed.
- Replace thin foil or plastic hoses with a sturdier connection.
- Have the full vent cleaned about once a year.
We clean the whole dryer vent line, from the back of the dryer to the outside cap.