The short answer
Clean your dryer vent when clothes take longer to dry, the dryer or laundry room gets unusually hot, or you smell something burning. A full cleaning clears lint from the dryer connection to the outside hood and checks that air flows freely. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor in home dryer fires.
Every load of laundry sends lint into your dryer vent. Most of it leaves the house, but some catches on duct seams, bends, and the exterior hood, and it builds up load after load. In Brooklyn, many dryer vents run a long way: through a back wall, under a floor, or up several stories to the roof of a row house or small apartment building. Long runs with several turns trap lint faster and are harder to clean with a store-bought brush. Expert Chimney Sweep cleans dryer vents from the dryer connection all the way to the outside termination, checks that air moves freely, and shows you what we found. This page covers the warning signs, what the service includes, how our crew works in your home, what affects the price, and what to expect on the day of your visit.
Signs you need it
Dryer vents rarely fail all at once. The signs usually build over weeks or months, and many homeowners blame the dryer before they think to check the vent. If you notice any of the following, have the vent cleaned before you replace the machine.
- Clothes take two cycles, or noticeably longer than they used to, to dry.
- The dryer cabinet, the clothes, or the laundry room feel hotter than normal.
- You smell something burning or scorched while the dryer runs.
- Lint collects around the dryer, behind it, or on the outside vent hood.
- The exterior flap barely opens, or you feel little air coming out when the dryer is on.
- You hear birds, rodents, or scratching near the vent line or the outside opening.
- The dryer shuts off mid-cycle or shows a vent or airflow warning.
What's included
Our dryer vent cleaning covers the whole path the air travels, not just the part you can reach from the laundry room. Here is what a standard visit includes.
- Pull the dryer out carefully and disconnect the transition duct.
- Clean the lint trap housing and the dryer's exhaust outlet.
- Clean the full vent run with rotary brushes, working from the inside, the outside, or both.
- Clear the exterior hood, flap, or roof cap, and remove any nests or blockages.
- Inspect the transition duct and replace it if it is crushed, torn, or the flexible foil or plastic type.
- Check airflow at the termination after cleaning.
- Reconnect and reposition the dryer, then run it briefly to confirm it vents properly.
- Walk you through what we found, with photos or camera footage when we use them.
How our crew works in your home and on the roof
Our certified technicians put down drop cloths from the door to the laundry area before moving anything. Lint and debris go straight into a HEPA vacuum as the rotary brush pushes them loose, so dust stays out of your living space. We take care when sliding the dryer out to avoid scratching floors or stressing the gas line or electrical cord.
Many Brooklyn vents end on the roof instead of a side wall. When yours does, a technician works from the roof to clean down from the cap while another works from the dryer end, so the run is cleared from both directions. If a vent has several turns or runs through a ceiling or wall we can't see into, we use a camera to check for remaining clogs, disconnected sections, or damage. Before we leave, we clean up the work area and the roof access point.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Why dryer vent cleaning matters
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. Lint is light and catches fire easily, and a clogged vent traps heat right where that lint collects. Regular cleaning is the simplest way to lower that risk.
A clear vent also lets the dryer work the way it was designed to. When hot, damp air can leave freely, loads often dry faster and the machine runs for less time. Gas dryers have another reason to keep the vent clear: their exhaust needs to leave the house completely.
What affects the price
We give you a price before work begins. Every home is different, and these are the main factors that change the scope of the job.
- Length of the vent run and the number of bends.
- Where the vent ends: a ground-level wall, an upper-story wall, or the roof.
- Height and roof access, including whether we need a ladder or a roof hatch.
- How much lint has built up, and whether there are nests or other blockages.
- Gas or electric dryer, and how easily the unit can be moved and reconnected.
- Whether a camera inspection is needed to see hidden sections.
- Repairs, such as replacing the transition duct, a damaged hood, or a broken roof cap.
How a visit works
When you contact us, we ask where your laundry is, where the vent ends outside, and what problems you've noticed. That helps us send the right equipment and plan for roof access if needed. On the day of the visit, the technician confirms the vent route with you, sets up drop cloths, and explains the plan before starting.
After cleaning, we test airflow, reconnect the dryer, and go over what we found. If a section is damaged or the vent run is too long or poorly routed, we explain your options so you can decide what to do next. We'll also suggest a cleaning schedule based on how much laundry your household does and how quickly lint built up.
