The drying time for your clothing takes longer and longer. Every clothes dryer duct system is different, but one thing is certain: A clogged dryer duct can increase the amount of time it takes to dry clothing by double or triple the time. What once used to take a thirty minute dry cycle now is taking sometimes up to two hours to dry. Most people don’t quite experience those extreme time differences but in our experience 60-70% of people will notice that after one cycle that their clothes aren’t quite dry yet and will restart the cycle again. Clothing that takes twice as long to dry is not only an energy waster, but also a fire hazard. This also adds much more wear and tear on the machine and cut the life of your dryer in half.

Your clothing and the outside of the dryer are very hot. Do you notice that the dryer is especially hot to the touch or that the clothing are much hotter at the end of the drying cycle? If the dryer duct becomes clogged it makes it so the heat can’t escape the machine properly. This can cause the heating element or the blower to wear out or overheat. In time this will break the dryer and cause the need for costly repairs or possibly replacement. You should also read our information on the dangers of a clogged dryer duct.

Burning smell. Do you smell a burning odor when you run your dryer? Lint Is extremely flammable, and if this trapped lint gets too hot, it can catch on fire. If you start to smell a burning odor while running your dryer, stop and get it inspected

Outside vent hood is clogged or doesn’t open. The outside vent opening of the dryer duct sometimes has a flap that opens and closes. If this flap isn’t opening while the dryer is running then it is most likely clogged. Dryer ducts are also favored by critters (birds, rodents and reptiles) to hide because it can stay nice and warm for them. If this outlet doesn’t have a flap and it’s just an opening sometimes birds make nests inside this and cause clogs.