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
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.