Ask House Spouse · Appliances & Fixtures · Laundry & Dryer Vents
How often should I clean my dryer vent?
Short answer
Every year, minimum — and every 6 months if you dry more than 5 loads a week or have a long vent run. Clogged dryer vents are the #1 cause of house fires attributed to appliances (per the U.S. Fire Administration), and they double your dryer's electricity use before they get to that point. Both problems, one $150 cleaning solves.
The warning signs
Clothes take two cycles to dry. The dryer top is hot to the touch. There's a burnt smell during a cycle. Or the outside vent flap doesn't open when the dryer runs. Any of these = clean now.
What a real cleaning is
Not just the lint trap. Full cleaning uses a rotating brush on a flexible rod, pushed the entire length of the vent from either end, capturing lint with a shop vac. Long runs (basement laundry venting through the roof) need this even more, because more surface to accumulate on.
Vent material matters
Flexible plastic or foil vent tubing is a code violation and a fire risk — it should be replaced with rigid metal duct. If you can see plastic vent behind your dryer, plan a $100–$200 replacement while we're there for cleaning.
What we see on Home Health Assessments
Around 74% of PNW roofs we assess show active moss establishment — accelerates shingle wear by an estimated 3–5 years if untreated.
Caught early on assessment: $220–$650 · Left until failure: $3,500–$22,000
Based on real experience across Snohomish and King County, appliances & fixtures issues like this are among the ones homeowners most often miss until they become expensive. Our Home Health Assessment catches them early — while they're still a maintenance item, not a repair.
How the Home Health Assessment worksServices we'd bring to this job
Where we handle this
We answer this question on real Home Health Assessments across Snohomish and King County.
Related questions
Safety & Prevention · Smoke & CO Detectors
How often should smoke and CO detectors be replaced?
Smoke detectors: replace the whole unit every 10 years (the sensor degrades regardless of battery). CO detectors: 5–7 years depending on brand — check the sticker on the back for the exact replace-by date. If either detector is over its date, replace it now, then set a calendar reminder for the next one.
Appliances & Fixtures · Laundry & Dryer Vents
Why is my washing machine shaking so violently on spin?
A violently shaking washer is either unlevel, has a load unevenly distributed, or (on front-loaders) has never had its shipping bolts removed. Front-loaders shake worst when the four rear shipping bolts weren't taken out at install. Check for those first — they're marked in the manual and often overlooked.