Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning... With owning a home comes a lot of responsibility and one of the most commonly forgotten responsibilities is cleaning your dryer vent. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, over 15,000 structural fires occur each year as a result of a dryer fire. The National Fire Protection Association further states that the #1 cause of a dryer malfunction is not cleaning out the dryer vent, which accounts for 1/3 of all dryer fires. These statistics not only support the cause for dryer vent cleaning but are simply scary! WARNING signs it’s time to clean your dryer vent: Are you running your dryer multiple times? Do your clothes smell funny, like a burning smell? Does your laundry room feel like a sauna? Is your dryer hot to the touch? Do you have more lint build up than normal? Is the flow sense light on your dryer lit? The following can occur as a result of a clogged dryer vent: Fires Wear and tear on the dryer High utility bills Carbon monoxide poising