Most dryer vents are so full of lint the homeowners are shocked.  "Where did all that come from" is often a common response upon examining removed contents of their dryer vent.

As dryer vents become filled with lint and other debris drying times increase and can cause the dryer to overheat.  This in turn increases energy consumption as the dryer must run longer to dry your clothes and can also cause fires in the dryer or dryer vent duct.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports an increasing trend in dryer related fires in the home.  CPSC figures for 1997 indicated 16,800 dryer fires which caused 30 deaths, 430 injuries and 97.3 million dollars in property damage.

If you have noticed your dryer is running longer than it used to, or an increase of lint from your clothes, you may need to have your dryer vent cleaned.  It is recommended to have your dryer vent cleaned at least every four years when you clean the rest of your air ducts.  Insurance companies are now starting to ask homeowners whether or not they have addressed this issue.