How Often Should Your Dryer Vent be Cleaned in Sherwood Park?

If you've ever pulled a freshly dried blanket out of the dryer only to find it still damp or noticed your laundry room getting unusually hot during a cycle, there's a good chance your dryer vent is overdue for a cleaning. It’s one of those home maintenance tasks that often gets overlooked, until there's a problem. In Sherwood Park, where we rely heavily on our dryers during the long, chilly winters, keeping that vent clean isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a necessity.

So, how often should you actually be cleaning your dryer vent? The short answer is at least once a year. But like most things around the house, it’s not always that simple. Let’s walk through what influences that timeline, what to look out for, and why it matters, especially here in Sherwood Park.

Why Your Dryer Vent Matters More Than You Might Think

Let’s start with the basics. When you run your dryer, it’s not just blowing hot air around your clothes. It’s pulling out moisture and lint, and pushing that air out through the dryer vent to the exterior of your home. Over time, lint builds up in that vent. If left alone, that buildup can restrict airflow, forcing your dryer to work harder, taking longer to dry clothes, and using more energy. Even worse, a clogged vent becomes a fire hazard.

Here in Sherwood Park, where winter temperatures regularly dip below freezing, our dryers tend to get more use. Not many of us are hanging clothes outside to dry in February. That increased usage can mean faster lint buildup, which in turn increases the need for regular cleaning.

The Annual Cleaning Rule, and When to Do It More Often

The general rule of thumb is to clean your dryer vent at least once a year. For many households in Sherwood Park, especially smaller families or individuals living alone, that timeline works well. But there are a few factors that can push that recommendation toward more frequent cleanings.

If you have a large family, do a lot of laundry each week, or have pets that shed, you’ll likely want to clean your vent every six months. Pet hair and dryer lint are a terrible combo for airflow. The more laundry cycles you run, the faster that lint collects and the harder your dryer has to work.

Another consideration is the length and configuration of your dryer vent. Homes in newer Sherwood Park neighbourhoods like Aspen Trails or Summerwood sometimes have longer or more complex vent routes than older homes in Brentwood or Mills Haven. The longer the vent, the more opportunity there is for lint to settle along the way, especially if there are multiple bends or vertical sections. If your vent snakes around corners or runs more than 10 feet, it’s worth checking it more frequently.

Clues That Your Dryer Vent Needs Attention

Not sure when your vent was last cleaned? Your dryer might already be giving you signals. Here are a few signs to watch for:

- Your clothes take longer than one cycle to dry.

- The outside of your dryer or your laundry room feels unusually hot.

- You notice a burning smell when the dryer is running.

- Lint is building up around the lint trap, the dryer door, or the exterior vent flap.

- Your exterior vent flap isn’t opening properly when the dryer is on.

In Sherwood Park, where freezing weather is the norm for months, it's also important to keep an eye on that exterior vent. If snow or ice builds up around it, it can block airflow and lead to moisture or condensation issues in your venting system. That’s just one more reason to keep it clean and clear year-round.

Local Conditions Make a Difference

While the general advice for dryer vent maintenance applies pretty much everywhere, there are a few local factors in Sherwood Park that make regular cleaning even more important.

First, consider our long winters. When it's -25°C outside, no one wants to be dealing with damp clothes or a dryer that suddenly stops working. You want your laundry system running reliably. Keeping your vent clean ensures your dryer runs efficiently even during peak usage.

Second, many Sherwood Park homes have attached garages, and it’s not unusual for a dryer vent to be routed through a garage wall or through a longer indoor run. That’s great for keeping venting indoors and preventing freeze-ups, but it also means lint can accumulate in less obvious places. Out of sight, out of mind, until there’s a problem.

And finally, energy efficiency matters more than ever. Utility costs aren't getting any cheaper in Alberta, and a clogged vent can cause your dryer to use more power per load. A clean vent helps keep your energy bills in check, something all of us can appreciate, especially when we're cranking up the heat in the winter.

DIY or Hire a Pro?

Once you’ve decided it’s time to clean your dryer vent, the next question is whether to tackle it yourself or call in a professional. If your dryer vent is short and straight, like running from the back of the dryer directly through the wall to the exterior, you can likely manage it on your own with a good brush kit. These kits are available at most hardware stores around Sherwood Park, including places like Home Hardware or Canadian Tire on Baseline Road.

But if your venting system is longer, includes multiple turns, or goes through a ceiling or crawlspace, hiring a professional is usually the safer and more effective route. A qualified technician will have the right tools to clear lint out of every section and ensure the system is functioning safely. Most HVAC companies in Sherwood Park offer this service, and it’s typically a quick appointment, well worth the peace of mind.

Don’t Forget the Lint Trap

While the main focus of this post is the dryer vent, it’s worth mentioning the lint trap, too. This one you absolutely should be cleaning after every single load. Not only does it reduce the risk of fire, but it also helps your dryer work more efficiently. Even a thin layer of lint on the screen can restrict airflow. Over time, fabric softener sheets can leave a residue that isn’t always visible, so it’s a good idea to wash the lint screen with warm, soapy water every couple of months.

A Small Task That Pays Off

Cleaning your dryer vent might not be the most glamorous home maintenance chore, but it’s one that can save you money, improve efficiency, and even prevent disaster. Fires caused by dryer vent clogs are more common than most people realize. According to the Canada Safety Council, poorly maintained dryers are a leading cause of residential fires, and the risk is entirely preventable.

Living in Sherwood Park means dealing with unique seasonal challenges, from icy weather to big swings in humidity. Those conditions make it even more important to stay ahead of maintenance like this. A quick annual cleaning (or twice a year if you’re a heavy laundry user) can go a long way toward keeping your home safe, your dryer efficient, and your laundry routine hassle-free.

If you can’t remember the last time your dryer vent was cleaned, that’s a pretty good sign it’s time to put it on the to-do list. Whether you’re in Heritage Hills, Glen Allan, or out near Emerald Hills, this is one chore that pays off more than it costs. So take an afternoon, or book a local pro, and give your dryer vent the attention it deserves. Your dryer, and your utility bill, will thank you.