The Dryer Guys
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When is a dryer vent issue actually an emergency?

Stop using your dryer and call a professional immediately if you smell burning, see smoke or scorch marks, find the dryer exterior hot to the touch, or have a gas dryer taking multiple cycles to dry. These are pre-fire conditions and running another load meaningfully increases the risk.

Pre-fire warning signs that warrant unplugging the dryer right now:

- A burning smell (not just 'hot laundry'), scorch marks inside the drum or on clothes, visible smoke, or hot spots on the dryer exterior you can't hold your hand against.

- Clothes that come out abnormally hot — hot enough to be uncomfortable to touch — even on a regular low-heat cycle.

- A gas dryer that takes two or more cycles to dry a normal load. Gas dryers with restricted vents can push combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, back into the house.

- The dryer has tripped a thermal fuse (cycle stops entirely, no heat) more than once in the past month.

In any of these cases: unplug the dryer (or shut off the gas valve if gas), open a window, and call us. Do not run another load hoping it'll work itself out. If the smell is strong or you see smoke, treat it as you'd treat any fire-risk condition — evacuate, then call 911 before calling us.

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Related questions

There's a burning smell from my dryer — what now?

Stop the cycle immediately, unplug the dryer (or shut off the gas if it's a gas model), and do not run another load. A burning smell from a dryer almost always means lint is scorching inside the unit or vent, which is a pre-fire condition. Schedule an inspection and cleaning before using the dryer again.

My dryer is hot to the touch — is that dangerous?

A warm dryer exterior is normal; a dryer exterior hot enough to be uncomfortable to touch is a warning sign. The most common cause is a restricted vent forcing the heating element to run hotter and longer than designed. Stop using the dryer and schedule a vent inspection immediately.

What are the signs my dryer vent is clogged?

The top warning signs are: drying cycles longer than 45 minutes, clothes that come out hot but still damp, a hot laundry room or dryer exterior, a burning smell, visible lint around the outdoor vent hood, or the dryer shutting off mid-cycle. Any one of these warrants a professional inspection.