Is dryer duct cleaning worth it for older homes?
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After buying an older house last year, we've been finding little maintenance jobs almost every month. The dryer works, but it takes noticeably longer to dry heavier clothes than it did in our previous place. A friend mentioned that older homes sometimes have vents with years of lint buildup, even if the dryer itself is fine. That got me thinking about having the duct professionally cleaned before replacing any appliances. Did dryer duct cleaning actually make a noticeable difference, or was it mostly for peace of mind?
Comments (3) -
Your story sounds a lot like ours. We moved into a house that was built in the late 1980s, and we assumed the dryer was simply nearing the end of its life because every load seemed to take forever. Before buying a new one, we had someone inspect the vent system. They found a surprising amount of lint and a couple of areas where airflow was restricted. Once everything was cleaned, drying times improved almost immediately, and the dryer didn't seem to struggle anymore. We were glad we checked that first because replacing the appliance would have been unnecessary. Since then, we've added vent cleaning to our regular maintenance list, especially because older homes often have years of buildup that previous owners may never have addressed.
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I've never owned an older house, but this discussion has been interesting to read. It makes sense that hidden ductwork could collect lint over many years without anyone realizing it. Checking the vent before replacing an appliance seems like a logical step and could save both time and money.
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During renovating an older property, someone suggested checking the dryer vent since nobody knew when it had last been cleaned. I started reading about dryer duct cleaning service and found a technician who explained what usually inspect and clean. There was also an article about Dryer duct cleaning service — essential summer maintenance in GTA, which seemed relevant because we were already planning seasonal maintenance around the house. It wasn't presented as anything complicated, just practical information about keeping the vent clear and maintaining good airflow. After scheduling the cleaning, we noticed the dryer finished loads faster, and it gave us confidence that one less hidden maintenance issue was waiting behind the walls.