Maryland Air Duct Pros guide
Dryer Vents in Maryland Townhouses and Rowhouses: What to Check
About one in five Maryland homes is a townhouse or rowhouse. In attached homes the dryer may not sit on an exterior wall, so the vent can run through floors, ceilings, or up to the roof. Watch for longer drying times and weak airflow at the outside hood, replace plastic or foil ducting with metal, and have long or hidden runs cleaned when lint builds up.
Updated October 19, 2026Sources listed below
Why attached homes are different
Townhouses and rowhouses make up about 22% of Maryland's housing units, according to Census Bureau estimates for 2024. In a detached house, the laundry area can be placed on an outside wall with a short, direct vent. In an attached home, side walls are usually shared with neighbors, so the vent may have to travel through a floor or ceiling, or up to the roof, to reach the outdoors.
A longer, more hidden run isn't a problem by itself, but it is harder to inspect from either end, and damage or a blockage can go unnoticed.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 1-year estimates, Table B25024 (Units in Structure)
Warning signs to watch for
CPSC and the U.S. Fire Administration point to a few checks any homeowner can do.
- Clothes still damp after a normal cycle, or drying that takes longer than usual, may mean the lint screen or exhaust duct is blocked (CPSC).
- With the dryer running, check the outside vent or roof cap if you can see it safely; if exhaust air isn't escaping, the vent or duct may be blocked (CPSC).
- Make sure the outdoor vent covering opens when the dryer is operating (USFA).
- Look at the venting behind the dryer to make sure it isn't damaged, crushed, or restricted (USFA).
Sources: U.S. CPSC, Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires (Publication 5022); U.S. Fire Administration, Clothes Dryer Fire Safety (flyer)
Duct materials and connections
CPSC recommends replacing plastic or foil accordion-type ducting with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which most manufacturers specify. Flexible plastic or foil duct can trap lint more easily and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce airflow.
CPSC also advises cleaning behind the dryer, where lint can build up, and keeping the area around the dryer free of clutter.
Source: U.S. CPSC, Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires (Publication 5022)
What a cleaning visit covers, and what it doesn't
A dryer vent cleaning removes lint from the duct between the dryer and the exterior termination and clears the hood or roof cap where it can be reached safely. Before the visit, check whether your HOA or condo association handles roof or exterior work, and let us know about roof access.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that failure to clean was the leading factor (31%) contributing to home clothes dryer fires from 2018 to 2020. Cleaning addresses lint buildup, but it can't rule out every cause of a fire, and it isn't appliance or gas repair. If a gas dryer needs service, call a qualified gas appliance technician.
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Appliance and Electrical Fire Safety