A dryer that takes longer every month is usually not a mystery. Lint builds up in the exhaust path, the machine runs longer to dry the same load, and the house pays for the extra time. The real questions are who climbs, who reaches inside the wall, and when the job goes to someone with the right tools. Start with what you can see from the floor.
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.
What you can check yourself
Clear the lint screen after every load and notice whether it feels slick or coated. Pull the dryer out far enough to look at the back of the unit and the flexible hose. Make sure the hose is not crushed, kinked, or pinched behind the machine. Then go outside and watch the exhaust hood while the dryer runs: the flap should open and air should push out steadily. If the flap barely moves or the airflow feels weak, write it down.
What needs a hired hand
Duct cleaning means reaching the length of vent you cannot see. That often includes a roof vent, a long run through a wall, or a path that starts on a second floor. Those jobs involve a ladder, a roof, and tools pushed into a hidden path. If the hood is high up, the run is long, or the only way to clear it is to open a wall, let a professional do the work. The line item is the call-out, not the climb.
What to ask before anyone comes out
Ask whether the company will clean the full run from the dryer to the outside hood, and whether they will check the flap. Ask for proof of insurance and a written list of what they did. Ask them to note the length of the duct and any damage they found, so the next visit starts from a record. Keep the receipt in the house file, and put the cleaning date in the shared thread so the next person knows when it was last done.
The signs to log for a month
Keep a simple log: loads that take longer than they used to, damp clothes coming out of the middle of a cycle, an unusual smell when the dryer runs, and any lint around the outlet or the back of the unit. A short list like this turns a vague complaint into something the family can act on together.