What does a dryer vent cleaning include?

A professional dryer vent cleaning clears lint out of the whole exhaust path, from the back of the dryer through the duct to the outdoor vent hood, and then confirms that air really leaves the house. A good visit also looks for the damage that makes lint collect in the first place, such as crushed or kinked ducting. Lint matters because it can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.^[2]

What a visit usually covers

Companies package the work differently, so ask what yours includes. The core of it follows what federal fire-safety guidance says a dryer's venting needs:

• The area behind and around the dryer. The U.S. Fire Administration says lint can build up at the back of the dryer and that it should be cleaned.^[1] The Consumer Product Safety Commission goes further and advises that you have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer chassis periodically.^[2] Not every vent-cleaning visit opens up the dryer itself, so ask.
• The duct between the dryer and the wall. The aim is to check the venting system behind the dryer to make sure it is not damaged, crushed or restricted.^[1]
• The run to the outside. The duct inside the wall, floor or ceiling is cleaned along its whole length, not just the first stretch behind the dryer.
• The outdoor hood. The cleaner's job is to make sure the outdoor vent covering opens when the dryer is operating.^[1] A flap that is stuck shut, or a hood clogged with lint or a bird's nest, defeats a clean duct.
• A check that air is escaping. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says to check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating, and that if exhaust air is not escaping, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked.^[2]

Ducting problems a cleaner should flag

Cleaning cannot fix a duct that is the wrong type. The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises replacing plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct.^[2] It says most manufacturers specify rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow, and that the flexible plastic or foil type more easily traps lint and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing.^[2]

If your cleaner finds foil accordion duct, a crushed section behind the dryer or a hood that does not open, expect a recommendation to replace parts. That is normally priced separately from the cleaning, so ask for it in writing before agreeing to it.

Signs the vent needs attention now

Do not wait for the calendar if clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying takes longer than normal. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says either can be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.^[2]

What the visit does not usually include

A vent cleaning is not a dryer repair. A dryer that will not heat, makes noise or trips a breaker is an appliance-repair job, and connecting or moving a gas dryer is work for a licensed professional. If you are weighing a repair against a new machine, see should I repair or replace a dryer.

Between visits

The part that belongs to you is the lint filter. The U.S. Fire Administration says to clean it before and after each cycle and never to run the dryer without one.^[1] ENERGY STAR adds that dryer sheets can leave a film on the filter that reduces air flow, and it suggests scrubbing the filter with a toothbrush once a month.^[3] For how much a professional visit costs, see how much dryer vent cleaning costs in Virginia, and for whether it earns its price, is professional dryer vent cleaning worth it.

When to call a licensed pro

For a routine cleaning you need a competent, insured cleaner, and you should confirm what the quote includes. Call a licensed pro when the job grows beyond cleaning: a new vent through a wall or roof, rerouting or replacing a long duct run, or any gas-dryer connection.

Virginia law sets a dollar line. If the work is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work.^[4] The Board for Contractors also warns that unlicensed contracting is against the law and that, if you contract with someone who does not hold a license, the Board may not be able to help you resolve a complaint.^[4] Read how to check whether a contractor is licensed in Virginia before you pay a deposit.

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