Clothes dryers send hot, moist air and lint through a vent to the outdoors. When lint builds up, heat can’t escape efficiently—raising fire risk, energy bills, and dry times. Industry guidance recommends **professional dryer vent cleaning once per year**, and sooner if you notice slow drying, a hot laundry room, or a burning smell.

Why it matters:

• Lint is highly flammable. National data show thousands of dryer‑involved home fires annually and substantial property loss.
• A clogged vent forces the dryer to work harder, shortening appliance life and driving up utility costs.
• DIY kits can help for very short, straight runs, but most homes have longer, kinked, or roof‑terminated vents that need pro tools.

Your 15‑minute checklist:

1) Feel the airflow outside. When the dryer runs, the exterior hood should open and blow strongly.

2) Check dry times. If cycles are getting longer, suspect restriction.

3) Smell/heat check. Any hot, musty, or burning odors? Act now.

4) Behind the dryer. Verify a smooth, metal transition duct (no plastic or foil) with no crushing/kinks.

5) Lint discipline. Clean the lint screen every load and periodically wash it with mild soap to remove fabric softener residue.

What a professional does:

• Measures airflow and back‑pressure, disassembles termination if needed.
• Uses rotary brush or air tools from end‑to‑end, then verifies clear flow.
• Documents before/after with photos and suggests a next service date.

When to clean sooner than annually: large households, pets (shedding), frequent laundry, long/roof‑exit vents, or if you notice any of the warning signs above.