Use air purifiers, clean regularly, and ensure proper ventilation to reduce pollutants.

There are a few things you can look out for that indicate it’s time to clean your dryer vent, including the following:

• It has been a year or more since the last professional cleaning.

• Your clothes are taking longer to dry than usual.

• Your clothes smell musty or burnt when they come out of the dryer.

• You see lint building up around the outside dryer vent cap.

• Your laundry room is unusually hot.

• Your dryer is unusually hot to the touch during operation.

• You notice a kink in or damage to the vent.

As a general rule, you should have your dryer vent professionally cleaned at least once a year to remove lint and debris buildup, which can cause fires and increase energy costs. However, the frequency may need to be adjusted based on usage. If you have a large household, use the dryer frequently, have pets, or have an older vent system, it is better to clean the vent more often, such as every six months or even quarterly. You should also schedule a cleaning immediately if you notice signs of a blockage, such as clothes taking longer to dry, the dryer feeling hot to the touch, or an odd odor. Routine vacuuming is not a substitute for a thorough, professional cleaning.

You can clean a dryer vent yourself by unplugging the dryer from your wall outlet, removing your vent pipe from your dryer, removing debris from the pipe and dryer area, and looking at the exterior vent exit for any debris or blockages. 

If you're unfamiliar with how vents work, call in a pro for an annual vent cleaning and inspection and for help with how to clean a dryer vent.