Lint buildup in your dryer and venting doesn't just impact your dryers performance - it's a serious fire hazard. Lint is highly combustable, and when you combine a flammable substance with a heat source, bad things can happen. Tens of thousands of house fires every year are attributed to dryer lint.
If you have noticed that your laundry is taking longer to dry, your dryer is feeling hot to the touch, or you notice a burning smell in your laundry room, you should immediately check your dryer venting from the back of the dryer all the way to the wall cap outside of your house.
This should be done at least once per year. If you have just purchased or moved into a new home, you should do this immediately.
Your lint filter inside the dryer should be cleaned every time that you use it. If you use dryer sheets, you should also wash your lint filter every three months. Install a smoke detector in the laundry room.
In addition to protecting your home, maintaining your dryer venting may also prevent you from paying for unnecessary service calls, and increase the lifespan of your dryer.