A Simple Chore That Could Save Your Home: The Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning When you think about home maintenance, cleaning out the dryer vent probably doesn’t top the list. But maybe it should. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year—and failure to clean the dryer is the leading cause. These preventable fires cause an estimated $35 million in property loss, dozens of injuries, and even fatalities.