Dryer Taking Forever? How to Fix Slow Drying, Cut Your Hydro Bill, and Prevent a Fire Hazard

If your dryer suddenly needs two cycles to finish a load of towels, don't rush to call a repair technician — and don't assume you need a new machine just yet. In most Canadian homes, slow drying comes down to one culprit: restricted airflow. The good news? It's usually fixable in an afternoon, and solving it can shave real dollars off your hydro bill.

Why Slow Drying Is More Than an Annoyance

A dryer works by pushing hot, moist air out of the drum and through a vent to the outside. When lint builds up anywhere along that path, the machine has to run longer to do the same job. That means:

• Higher energy costs. A dryer running double cycles can easily add $10–$20 a month to your electricity bill.
• Shorter appliance lifespan. Longer run times mean more wear on the heating element, motor, and drum bearings.
• Fire risk. Lint is highly flammable. Clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of household appliance fires in Canada — this one isn't optional.

Step 1: Clean the Lint Trap (Properly)

You probably clear the lint screen every load — but dryer sheets and fabric softener leave an invisible film that blocks airflow even on a "clean" screen. Once a month, wash the lint screen with warm water and a drop of dish soap, scrub gently with a soft brush, and let it dry completely before reinserting. If water pools on the screen instead of draining through, that film is your problem.

Step 2: Vacuum the Lint Trap Housing

Lint slips past the screen and collects in the cavity below it. Use a vacuum with a crevice attachment (or a flexible lint brush, about $10 at any hardware store) to clean out the housing every few months. You'll be surprised what comes out.

Step 3: Clean the Vent Duct — the Big One

This is the step most homeowners skip, and it's the one that matters most. At least once a year:

• Unplug the dryer and pull it away from the wall.
• Disconnect the vent duct from the back of the machine.
• Use a dryer vent brush kit to sweep the full length of the duct, working toward the outside exit.
• Outside, check that the exterior vent flap opens freely when the dryer runs and isn't blocked by snow, leaves, or a bird's nest.

While you're back there: if your home still has white vinyl or foil accordion-style duct, replace it with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct. Accordion duct traps lint in every ridge and is no longer recommended under Canadian building practice.

Step 4: Don't Overload — and Sort Smart

A stuffed drum can't tumble, and clothes that can't tumble can't dry. Fill the drum no more than three-quarters full, and dry heavy items (towels, jeans) separately from light synthetics so the moisture sensor doesn't shut off early or run long.

When It's Time to Replace Instead

If you've cleaned the full vent path and your dryer still underperforms, watch for these signs that the machine itself is the issue:

• The drum spins but the air never gets hot (failed heating element).
• Loud squealing, grinding, or thumping (worn bearings or rollers).
• It's 10–15+ years old and repairs are quoted at more than half the cost of replacement.

Newer dryers also earn their keep: moisture sensors that stop the cycle the moment clothes are dry, and high-efficiency motors, can meaningfully cut energy use compared to a decade-old machine.

Replace for Less Than You Think

Here's where buying smart pays off. At Oxbury Appliances, our open-box, scratch & dent, and factory refurbished dryers deliver the same performance as brand-new big-box units — often at 20–50% less. A small cosmetic mark on the side panel (that disappears against your laundry room wall) can save you hundreds of dollars on a top-brand machine.

Browse our full selection of electric and gas dryers — new box, open box, and refurbished — and get a faster, safer, cheaper-to-run laundry room without paying full retail. Every unit is inspected and tested before it leaves our warehouse.