Inside Dryer Looks Burned (Here's Why)
Have you ever reached into your dryer to grab a load of laundry and noticed that the vent inside your dryer looks burned? Thoughts like, “How did this happen?” and “Is this dangerous?” run through your mind. A quick Google search on “vent inside dryer looks burned” turns up mostly just discussion forums of people troubleshooting this problem, but no definitive answers. What do you do?!
Look no further! Today we’re sharing everything you need to know about why the vent inside your dry looks burned and what to do about it.
Vent inside dryer looks burned - causes
The first thing we want to tell you is: don’t panic!
It is common to see the vent inside your dryer (usually located towards the back) become a black-ish hue, almost as if there’s burn residue on it. This little vent is called a heat inlet grille.
Here’s an example from the dryer manufacturing company Whirlpool of clean inlet grille compared to a discolored one with burn residue:
Clean/new inlet grille:
Photo credit: Whirlpool
Discolored inlet grille with burn residue:
Photo credit: Whirlpool
This discoloration can be caused by several things, including color run-off from your clothing and normal wear and tear from usage. Additionally, the dryer’s high heat itself can turn the color of the inlet grille to a darker tint. To work well, your dryer does need to get very hot, and it is normal for this heat to discolor the vent inside your dryer.
The burn residue isn’t a fire hazard, nor does it necessarily signal that your dryer is at-risk of starting a fire.
However, it is important that you pay attention to whether there is a burning smell coming from your dryer along with the inlet grille looking burned.
Fire hazard: Burning smell coming from dryer
A burning smell is an actual cause for concern, because it may indicate that your dryer vents are clogged and the machine is overheating.
It is common for lint and dust to build up in dryer vents over time, which can prevent the vents from working properly and regulating the dryer’s airflow. The longer your dryer vents are clogged, the higher the chance it could overheat and spark a fire. In fact, dryers cause almost 3,000 home fires in the United States each year.
Not sure if your dryer has clogged vents or is overheating? Another sign your dryer may be experiencing this problem is if you notice your dryer is burning your laundry. If your clothes are coming out of your dryer with scorch marks on them, you may want to inspect your dryer vents or have them inspected by a professional.
What causes the burning smell from your dryer
Here’s what causes the burning smell from your dryer and what you can watch out for when inspecting your dryer vents:
Are your dryer vents attached securely to your machine?
Can you see any tears in the ductwork?
Are there any places where the vents are being crushed or pinched?
Is there enough ventilation so that air from your dryer can flow freely out of your house?
Do you see any visible lint or dust clogging parts of your dryer vents?
Basically: if your dryer vents are not attached securely, have tears or leaks in them, or have kinks or blocks in them preventing airflow, your dryer may be overheating. All of these issues can cause a burning smell from your dryer.
Additionally, even if you can’t see any lint or dust blocking parts of your dryer vents, there may still be buildup in parts that can’t be seen without taking your dryer apart. Many dryers have small crevices and spots that lint tends to get stuck in. If not cleaned out, this lint will often char from the high heat of a dryer (especially if that dryer is overheating). This char may also contribute to the discoloration of the heat inlet grille inside the dryer.
Vent inside dryer looks burned - have your dryer vents cleaned professionally
If you notice the vent inside your dryer looks burned and that there’s a burning smell coming from your dryer, you should consider having your dryer vents cleaned by a professional.
A professional dryer vent and air duct cleaning company will be able to take apart your dryer to clean all of those hidden nooks and crannies we don’t normally see. They’ll ensure that all of the dryer’s internal duct work is clean of lint and dust, so these blockages don’t cause overheating any longer. They will also be able to confirm whether there are any leaks or tears in your vents that need resealing. It is so worth having a professional dryer vent cleaning company inspect your vents, so that you can know without a doubt that your dryer won’t overheat and start a house fire.
Also, professional dryer vent cleaners know how to put everything back together after cleaning the dryer vents, so your dryer works perfectly. It can be so stressful to try to clean your dryer as a DIY project, and then end up putting it back together incorrectly.
If you think your dryer vents need to be cleaned, contact Crystal Clean Vents today! We are an air duct and dryer vent cleaning company that has been serving the Salt Lake City area and Wasatch Front for over 20 years, and we aim to offer the best vent cleaning services in Utah!