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Dryer takes two cycles — vent checklist

Dryer vent

A calm walk-through when clothes need a second dry: lint screen, exterior flap, hose shape, and when to call a technician.

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If a load that used to finish in one cycle now needs two, the dryer is often fine and the exhaust path is not. Warm, damp air has to leave the room through a short, smooth duct. Lint in that path slows the drum and wastes a second cycle.

Unplug the dryer before you disconnect anything. For a gas dryer, if you smell gas, leave the machine off and call your gas utility or a qualified technician.

Five-minute checks

Lint screen. Clean it before every load. Wash the screen in warm water if fabric softener has made it feel filmed. A clogged screen is the most common slow-dry cause and the easiest fix.

Exterior flap. Go outside to the vent cap while a cycle runs. The flap should open and you should feel a steady stream of warm air. If the flap stays shut or only a weak puff comes out, lint is likely in the cap, the wall run, or the hose behind the dryer. See also Outdoor dryer vent flap stuck closed.

The hose behind the dryer. Pull the dryer straight out so you do not pinch the power cord or a gas connector. Look for a crushed or coiled foil accordion hose, a sagging loop on the floor, or peeling tape. A short run of rigid or semi-rigid metal duct with few bends is the usual household upgrade.

After you reattach

Run a short empty cycle and confirm the outside flap moves. Do not dump the vent into the room “just this once.” Lint in a dryer vent is a fire risk — keep the path short, metal, and clear.

If the hose and flap look clear but clothes still need two cycles, or the duct runs where you cannot see it, call a technician rather than opening a sealed dryer cabinet.

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