Came back to update since a couple of you asked me to. Dryer vent cleaners came out on Friday and cleaned out the back of the dryer, cleaned out the vent inside where the dryer is connected and went up on the roof. From there, they cleaned the screen and put something down into the vent to knock stuff loose. They had a super power vacuum that was powered by the generator on their truck and sucked all the lint out. They said I had a large clog. I never realized that our dryer vents out onto the roof and now it makes sense that it would be a problem. They also said that with a vent that goes up through the wall like that, the problem can be worse because of condensation. The vent is cooled by the outside air or your AC, then you are sending hot air through it when using your dryer. Consequently, there is condensation and the link sticks even more. Here is a pic of how the vents can be arranged - ours is one that goes to the roof:
So, did it work? Yes!!! and I wish I had done it much sooner. My dryer has been working overtime and I almost bought a new one. I did laundry this weekend and everything is drying in HALF the time! I am so irritated that I likely lost some life on my dryer due to overuse AND my power bills could have been much lower. Totally worth the $75!
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I think we need to have our dryer vent cleaned. We've never had this done professionally and I have been researching it a bit. I was all set to buy a new dryer when I read that dirty dryer vents can not only lead to fires, but increase drying times. Cost is $80-$100. I figure this is a cheaper option than a new dryer and is worth a try. I'm also concerned about the risk of fires from dirty vents, so I think it's time to have it done (we have been in this house almost 8 years!).
Have you ever had your dryer vents professionally cleaned? What do I need to know so I don't get scammed when I call a service?