New York Air Duct Pros guide
Snow, Ice, and Your Dryer Vent: A Winter Checklist for New York Homes
In much of New York, heavy snow can cover a low exterior dryer vent hood. New York's Division of Consumer Protection advises checking dryer and furnace vents during and after heavy snowfalls and clearing snow from the openings. A blocked gas dryer vent can let carbon monoxide build up indoors, and a blocked electric dryer vent is still a fire concern. Clearing snow is a quick homeowner task; vent cleaning deals with lint inside the duct, and the U.S. Fire Administration found failure to clean was the leading factor in residential dryer fires. No cleaning can guarantee a fire won't happen.
Updated October 19, 2026Sources listed below
Why New York winters matter for dryer vents
NOAA's New York climate summary notes that the northern part of the state frequently experiences heavy lake-effect snow; in November 2014, one lake-effect storm dropped more than 5 feet of snow just east of Buffalo. Nor'easters can also produce crippling snowfall, as the Blizzard of 1996 did in New York City. A 2015 Department of Energy climate guide places 26 upstate counties in the colder zone 6A.
Nationally, the U.S. Fire Administration found that residential clothes dryer fires were more common in fall and winter, peaking in January.
Sources: NOAA NESDIS: New York State Climate Summary 2022; U.S. DOE Building America: Guide to Determining Climate Regions by County (PNNL, 2015); U.S. Fire Administration: Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010)
Check the hood during and after storms
New York's Division of Consumer Protection advises checking furnace and dryer vents on the exterior of the house during and after heavy snowfalls and clearing snow away from the openings if it builds up. NFPA's dryer safety tips make the same point: check that the outdoor vent flap isn't covered by snow.
- Find your exterior dryer hood before the first storm so you know where to look.
- After heavy snow, clear the opening with a gloved hand or a brush rather than a shovel blade that could bend the flap.
- Keep plowed or shoveled snow piles away from the wall where the vent exits.
- Make sure the flap can open freely and isn't frozen shut.
Sources: New York Department of State, Division of Consumer Protection: winter safety consumer alert (Dec. 21, 2022); NFPA: Clothes Dryer Safety tip sheet
Gas dryers and carbon monoxide
The Division of Consumer Protection warns that when a furnace or gas dryer vent is blocked, carbon monoxide can build up inside the home. Electric dryers don't pose a carbon monoxide risk, but a blocked vent can still be a fire hazard.
If a gas dryer's vent may be blocked, don't run the dryer until the opening is clear. NFPA recommends having gas dryers inspected by a qualified professional to make sure the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks; that inspection is separate from vent cleaning.
Sources: New York Department of State, Division of Consumer Protection: winter safety consumer alert (Dec. 21, 2022); NFPA: Clothes Dryer Safety tip sheet
Lint inside the duct is a separate problem
Clearing snow keeps the outlet open, but it doesn't remove lint that has built up inside the vent. The U.S. Fire Administration found that failure to clean was the leading factor contributing to residential clothes dryer fires, describes lint as highly combustible, and notes that accumulated lint reduces airflow. Vents can also be blocked by birds' nests or damaged venting.
NFPA suggests cleaning lint out of the vent pipe about once a year, or sooner if clothes are taking longer than normal to dry. Cleaning reduces buildup; it can't guarantee a fire will never happen.
Sources: U.S. Fire Administration: Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010); NFPA: Clothes Dryer Safety tip sheet
Apartments and shared laundry
About 17% of New York housing units are in buildings with 50 or more units. In those buildings, shared laundry rooms and building-wide dryer exhaust are generally the building's responsibility. If you have an in-unit dryer, check the building's rules before arranging any vent work.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2024 1-year, Table B25024 (Units in Structure)
Questions
Is it safe to run my dryer during a snowstorm?
An electric dryer with a blocked vent is a fire concern, and a gas dryer with a blocked vent can let carbon monoxide build up indoors. Check that the exterior hood is clear before running either. New York's Division of Consumer Protection advises checking exterior dryer vents during and after heavy snowfalls and clearing away any snow that builds up.