You may have noticed the dryer running a little longer than it used to. The towels come out damp in the middle, or the back of the machine feels warm when you lean on it. That is lint, collecting in a duct you cannot see, and it is the kind of job that waits until something smells wrong. So the decision in front of you is easy to say and harder to carry out: does he clear the vent himself, or do you pay someone who does this all day?
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Start by looking, not by arguing
Go outside while the dryer is running and find the vent flap where the hose exits the house. It should push open with the airflow and close again when the dryer stops. If it barely moves, or if you can see lint crusted around the edges, the duct is already restricting air. Then pull the dryer out from the wall, unplug it first, and look at the flexible hose behind it. Hoses that are crushed, kinked or taped together with old tape are the ones that cause trouble. Take a photo of what you find. It will help you decide and it will help whoever comes after you.
When he can do it himself
He can probably manage this if the run is short, mostly straight, and reachable from the back of the dryer and from the outside wall. A dryer vent brush kit and a drill are enough for a simple run. He will tell you the dryer has always worked fine. It has. It has also been pushing warm, damp air into the laundry room for years, so let him do the work and let him be right about it.
When to hire it out
Hire it out if the duct runs long distances, turns several times, goes up through a ceiling or into a wall cavity, or if the outside flap cannot be reached safely from the ground. Those jobs need longer brushes, a vacuum rated for lint, and someone willing to climb or crawl. Hiring it is also the right call if the hose is damaged in a way you cannot replace with the same type.
What to ask before you book anyone
Ask whether they clean the full length of the duct or only the section behind the dryer. Ask whether they check and clear the outside flap. Ask what they do if they find a crushed or rigid section that needs replacing, and whether that is quoted separately. Ask whether they will show you the lint they removed. A good service will be glad to explain what they found, and will not be bothered by a question about it.
Tonight
Check the outside flap while the dryer runs. Note whether the room is warm or humid after a load. Decide on one thing: does he take the hose off this weekend, or does he call someone on Monday? Either answer is fine. The only wrong answer is leaving it for another winter.