Here are some of the signs that your dryer vent needs cleaning: Clothes are taking more than one cycle to dry, especially jeans & towels. No lint visible on lint screen. Dryer repeatedly stops during a cycle. Clothes have moldy smell after dry cycle. Clothes are very hot after a dry cycle. The top of your dryer hot to the touch while running. There’s excess lint left on your clothing. The U.S. Consumer Safety Commission estimates that every year, close to 16,000 fires are caused by clothes dryers. Fire Damage from clothes dryers can be avoided by the following: Clean the lint filter after every load Periodically clean the dryer vent. This will increase air flow, reduce drying time, and reduce the risk of a fire. Dryer vents clogged with lint cost $18-$24 more per month.