Dryer Not Drying Clothes? 5 Things to Check First
Most "my dryer isn't drying" calls turn out to be airflow restriction in the vent line, not a broken dryer. Here's a practical checklist before you call a service.
1. Lint screen — clean and check the screen itself
Clean the lint screen between every load (this is the single most important habit). Then run a flashlight at an angle across the screen mesh — if it looks shiny or glossy, fabric softener residue is sealing the mesh shut, and even a "clean" screen is restricting airflow. Wash the screen in warm water with a drop of dish soap, scrub with a soft brush, dry, and re-check.
2. Pull the dryer out and look behind it
Most homeowners haven't pulled their dryer out in years. Vacuum the floor and the dryer's back panel area. Check that the transition hose between the dryer and the wall isn't crushed, kinked, or torn. A foil-style transition hose can collapse from being pushed against the wall and is a fire-code violation in North Carolina anyway — replace it with rigid or semi-rigid metal.
3. Walk outside and look at the vent cap
With the dryer running, step outside and look at where the vent terminates. The flap should be moving with the airflow. If it's stuck closed, the line is blocked or the cap mechanism is broken. Look for lint accumulation around the cap, bird nests in the opening, or a flap that's been wired or screwed shut by a previous owner trying to keep pests out.
4. Check the dryer's actual heat output
Run an empty dryer on the highest heat setting for 5 minutes. Open the door and feel inside — it should be hot, not just warm. If the heat element isn't producing real heat, you have an appliance issue rather than a vent issue and you need a dryer repair tech, not us. (We do dryer vent work, not appliance repair.)
5. Time a normal load
Run a typical load and time it. A standard dryer cycle should finish in 35 to 50 minutes for normal-weight clothes. If your normal load is taking 75+ minutes, you have airflow restriction somewhere in the system. After the four checks above, the remaining culprit is almost always lint buildup deeper in the vent line, which is what we clear.
When to call us vs. an appliance repair tech
Call us if your dryer's heat is fine but clothes take too long, the dryer feels hot, the laundry room feels humid, or the outside vent cap isn't moving freely. Those are airflow issues, which we solve.
Call an appliance repair tech if the dryer isn't producing heat, isn't tumbling, or isn't powering on. Those are appliance issues, which we don't.