Michigan Air Duct Pros guide
Snow, Drifts and Your Dryer Vent: A Michigan Winter Checklist
In the snowiest parts of Michigan, the outside end of a dryer vent can be buried or blocked after a storm. Clear the hood by hand, make sure the flap opens and air flows while the dryer runs, and watch for longer drying times, which the CPSC treats as a sign of a blocked lint screen or exhaust duct. Regular lint removal lowers fire risk; in winter, a clear hood matters just as much.
Updated October 19, 2026Sources listed below
Why winter matters for dryer vents here
NOAA's Michigan climate summary notes that the south shore of Lake Superior and the eastern shore of Lake Michigan receive much more snow than the rest of the state, with parts of the Upper Peninsula topping 180 inches a year. A dryer hood near the ground on a wall that catches drifting snow can be covered after a single storm.
Winter is also when dryer fires are most common. U.S. Fire Administration data on residential dryer fires show incidents were higher in fall and winter and peaked in January, with failure to clean the leading contributing factor.
Sources: NOAA NCEI: Michigan State Climate Summary; U.S. Fire Administration: Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008–2010)
After a storm: a quick outdoor check
It takes a couple of minutes and needs no tools beyond a broom.
- Find the exterior hood before you shovel, so you don't bury it with thrown snow.
- Clear snow and ice away from the hood by hand or with a broom rather than a shovel blade.
- Run the dryer and look at the hood: the flap should open and you should feel warm air leaving.
- Check other appliance vents on the same trip; USFA's carbon monoxide advice covers dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace vents.
Sources: U.S. Fire Administration: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention; U.S. Fire Administration: Clothes Dryer Fire Safety; U.S. CPSC: Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires (Publication 5022)
Signs the problem is inside the vent
If the hood is clear but loads still take longer than usual, the restriction may be inside. The CPSC says clothing that's still damp after a typical cycle, or drying that takes longer than normal, may mean the lint screen or exhaust duct is blocked.
Check the section behind the dryer too. USFA recommends making sure the venting system behind the dryer is not damaged, crushed or restricted, and the CPSC recommends replacing plastic or foil accordion-type duct with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which most manufacturers specify.
Sources: U.S. CPSC: Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires (Publication 5022); U.S. Fire Administration: Clothes Dryer Fire Safety
When cleaning helps, and what it can't do
Dryer vent cleaning removes lint from the duct and hood so air can move freely, which addresses the factor USFA found most often behind residential dryer fires. It doesn't repair a crushed or disconnected duct or fix a gas or electrical problem, and it can't guarantee a dryer will never catch fire.
If we find damaged duct or a vent route that needs changing, we'll tell you what we saw. That work belongs to the appropriate contractor.
Source: U.S. Fire Administration: Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008–2010)