Why Is Cold Outside Air Coming in Through My Dryer?

By Sarah Stasik

March 05, 2025

Taking the laundry out of the dryer comes before the step many people prefer to procrastinate: the folding of said laundry. However, for a brief moment between the dryer and the pile on your bed or sofa, freshly dried laundry offers the bliss of toasty warm fabric in your arms.

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If your outside dryer vent is blowing cold air into your machine, however, you might not get that moment. You might also find your dryer is failing to remove all the moisture from your clothing.

Why Is Cold Air From Outside Blowing Through My Dryer?

Your dryer vents to a location outside your home. When the vent works properly, hot dryer air is pushed to the outside. If cold external air makes it inside your dryer, something is likely wrong with the dryer vent.

Vent Cover Is Missing

Typically, a hinged cover is on the vent pipe's external end. This vent opens to let out the hot air and closes to keep external air from blowing into the dryer. If the vent cover is missing, however, it obviously can't do its job.

Vent Cover Is Damaged

Cold air may flow into your dryer if the vent cover is damaged. If there are holes in the cover or it's bent enough that it leaves a gap even when in the closed position, it may let outside air into the vent pipe.

Vent Pipe Is Damaged

If your vent cover is intact and seems to be working properly, inspect your vent pipe. Holes or other damage in the pipe can allow external air to flow into the pipe and make it down to your dryer.

Clogs or Blockages

A variety of debris can create blockages that keep the vent cover from closing completely. Some include:

Leaves. Wind can blow leaves into or around the vent pipe, keeping the vent cover from closing completely.
Dryer lint. Lint from the dryer can escape into the vent pipe, building up over time and causing a number of issues, including blocking the vent cover from closing.
Ice. In cold weather, ice or snow can build up around the vent opening, preventing the vent cover from functioning correctly.

Poorly Sealed Connections

If none of the above issues seem to be the cause of your drying blowing cold air, double-check all the connections for the vent pipe. A poor seal can cause air to flow in.

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How Do I Keep Cold Air From Blowing in Through Dryer Vents?

To keep cold air from outside out of your dryer vents and your dryer, ensure the vent, vent pipes and vent cover are in good working order. If the problem is something like a small hole in the vent pipe or a poor seal, you may be able to address the matter with some duct tape or by replacing a section of the pipe. For those who are comfortable with general home maintenance tasks, DIY repair of a dryer vent pipe or cover is fairly easy and usually inexpensive.

What If Your Dryer Blows Cold Air Internally?

When a dryer doesn't blow hot air at all and cold air doesn't come in from the outside, it may indicate something is wrong with the machine. Some reasons a dryer might not blow warm air include:

Blown fuses or tripped breakers, as many dryers operate on two fuses — one ensures the machine powers on and one ensures the heat elements work
A heating element that's burned out or otherwise damaged
A clogged dryer vent that restricts appropriate airflow in the machine
Problems with fuel supply, in the case of gas-powered dryers
A damaged thermostat or other device designed to regulate temperature within the dryer

In cases where the components of your dryer are the issue, you may want to call in a professional to handle the repairs. That's especially true if your machine is still under warranty, as any DIY work you do could void the warranty.

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