Lint does not stop at the screen. It coats the whole vent run, and a coated run is what turns a healthy dryer into a slow, hot, hazardous one.
What a blocked run actually does
A dryer works by moving heated air through the load and pushing the moisture outside. Restrict that airflow and the moisture stays in, the cycle runs longer, the drum runs hotter, and eventually the thermal fuse cuts the heat to protect the machine.
The signs
- Loads that need two or three cycles
- A laundry room that is hot and humid after a cycle
- A burning smell when the dryer runs
- An outside vent flap that does not open
- A thermal fuse that has blown more than once
Why replacing the fuse is not the fix
The fuse is doing its job. It blew because something made the dryer overheat. Replacing it without clearing the restriction simply schedules the next failure.
How often
Once a year for most households. More often with a large family, a long duct run through an attic, or if you dry bedding and towels frequently. We measure airflow before and after, so you see the difference rather than take our word for it.
