Why does nobody talk about dryer vents catching lint after you clean them?

Last week I cleared a dryer vent in a house near Austin, TX, and three days later the homeowner called me back saying it was clogged again. I went out there and found new lint buildup already starting, even though I used a brush and vacuum the first time. Turns out their outdoor flap was jammed half open, letting humid air push lint right back in. Has anyone else run into this kind of sneaky re-clog issue?

3 comments

3 Comments

finleym374d ago

Honestly this totally changed how I look at dryer vents. I used to think once you cleaned the inside pipe you were good to go for months, but that flap issue makes so much sense now. Ngl I actually had a similar problem where I'd clean my own vent and see lint again within a week, drove me nuts. Tbh I never even checked the outside flap, just assumed it was fine because it wasn't totally stuck. Now I'm wondering how many times I've been fighting that same losing battle without realizing it.

martinez.paul4d ago

That thing about the outdoor flap being jammed half open reminds me of something I read on a home repair blog once. They were saying that if the flap isn't sealing tight, it turns your vent into basically a giant straw for humid outdoor air, which then dumps moisture right onto the lint you just cleaned out. It makes sense when you think about it, the wet air acts like glue for the new stuff, so you're basically fighting a losing battle until you fix the flap. I'd check the hinge or spring mechanism on yours, sometimes a little rust or a bent piece is all it takes to wreck the whole deal.

xena_hernandez984d ago

Dead on with that hinge tip. A lot of folks overlook the outside flap and just assume if it moves a little it's fine. But a poorly sealed flap is basically a open invitation for all that humid air to mess up your hard work. Rust on the spring is a common culprit too, so that's worth checking. Either way, fixing that one small piece saves you from cleaning the whole vent again next week.