Dryer vent cleaning should be performed regularly, annually for individual residential usage, and every six months for common shared laundries.
It is important to regularly clean dryer vents, as dryer units with lint build up operate at reduced efficiency, costing more energy, and more importantly represent a significant fire hazard. This is because lint traps only capture a maximum of 90% of the lint from your clothing and towels. The balance of lint can collect in the dryer vent and clog it. This causes clothes to take significantly longer to dry, and creates a significant fire hazard in that the excess heat buildup can cause accumulated lint to combust.