Dryer Vent Cleaning

Dryer Vent Cleaning + Repairs

Central Texans have trusted Capitol Chimney to clean their dryer vents since the 1990s, and they keep coming back because we value our customers and are serious about their safety.

Clogged Dryer Vents Are a Safety Issue

When it comes to maintaining a safe and efficient home, dryer vent cleaning is paramount. With years of experience in the field, Capitol Chimney is committed to ensuring our customers’ safety. Our dedication to excellence and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction sets us apart.

The benefits of ensuring your dryer vents are free from obstructions and potential hazards include:

Improved dryer efficiency and reduced energy costs.
Prevent potential fire hazards from lint buildup.
Extend the lifespan of your dryer.

If you’re tired of waiting hours for your clothes to dry, worried about birds building nests in your external vents, or concerned about a potential safety issue, contact Capitol Chimney – we’ll take care of you.

Dryer Vents – Hotbed of Toxins and Allergens

Detergents and fabric softeners may be necessary to clean your clothes and bedding, but they also contain hazardous chemicals for human breathing or consumption. A secondary purpose of a dryer vent is to help release chemical vapors from the dryer and out of your home. A clogged vent cannot do its job, and the gasses from chemical cleaners may be released inside your home.

Lint stuck to the interior of the dryer vent can also absorb those chemicals, as well as allergy-causing dust and dirt. If you or a family member already has allergies or asthma, a dryer brimming with toxins will only exacerbate the illness.

How Capitol Chimney Cleans Dryer Vents

A Quality Check Inspection is part of every service Capitol Chimney offers to troubleshoot your dryer vent, chimney, or fireplace. In the case of dryer vents, the first step is identifying the vent box and vent cap on the home’s exterior. We can tell immediately whether or not your vent needs cleaning or repair.

Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning

We will begin by disconnecting the dryer for the maintenance step of the process. We check airflow through the dryer vent exhaust, identify any barriers to airflow, and begin the cleaning process.

Professional dryer vent cleaners like Capitol Chimney have tools, rotary brushes, and vacuums used specifically for your vent, which may curve sharply at the wall of your house. We do not recommend that homeowners attempt to snake brooms or other objects through the vent independently. Doing so may cause further damage to your dryer vent.

Once lint and debris are completely removed from the vent, Capitol Chimney will clean the aluminum sleeve, the dryer, and the area around the dryer for any additional material that may have been blown out.

We will then reconnect the dryer to the vent sleeve and reconnect its power source so that we may run a test cycle. A successful test cycle means that the dryer is spinning hot, and air is flowing to and through the vent box outside your home. Once a successful test dryer cycle is complete, we will clean up any mess caused by our maintenance work and leave the laundry area of your home exactly as we found it.

dryer_vent_before_and_after - Capitol Chimney + Fireplace Services

Installing Animal Guard Caps

Because your dryer vent exits at the exterior of your house, the opening must be protected from rodents, birds, and other animals. Sometimes these animals make nests, adding additional clogging to the vent. Once inside, the animals will leave droppings, chew through the ductwork, and may even make their way into your home.

Capitol Chimney offers professional installation of quality mesh caps and screens that protect your dryer vent and ductwork from wildlife intruders.

Dryer Vent Cleaning FAQs

How do I know when my dryer vents need to be cleaned?

The best measure of a properly functioning dryer vent duct is how quickly your clothing gets dry. Gradually, you will notice that your clothing is taking longer to dry. If you have to run your dryer two or more times and your clothes are not fully dry, it may be time to have the vent cleaned and cleared of lint. You can also check the vent box on the outside of your home.

A vent needing service will have lint and debris lining the interior walls of the exhaust pipe, and your clothes will be sopping wet no matter how often you run the dryer. If that is the case, we recommend you immediately cease the use of your dryer until after the vent has been cleaned.

How can I maintain my dryer vent in the meantime?

You should regularly keep track of your machine’s drying time for different-sized loads of clothing, bedding, and towels. Take note each time you have to run a cycle more than once. Having to do so occasionally is normal, especially for an unusually large load of laundry. However, keep track of how often this happens. This will help you determine whether or not your vent is clogged.

Always clean your lint filter screen after running a cycle. At least once a year, it’s a good idea to disassemble and clean the interior of your dryer. If your dryer is several years old, you may need a replacement lint filter.

Check on your dryer vent box on the exterior of your home. You can remove some dust and dirt from the aluminum sleeve yourself. If you can’t lift the cap or you can visibly see lint and debris, it is a good idea to cease the use of the machine and wait for maintenance.

How much do dryer vent services cost?

The cost of cleaning and servicing dryer vents can vary widely depending on the location and layout of your dryer and where the vent box terminates outside your home. We can usually give you a more accurate cost estimate once we get baseline information about your situation, so don’t hesitate to contact us.

Our Locations & Service Areas

Capitol Chimney provides chimney, fireplace and dryer vent services to most of Central Texas. Whether you need an inspection, cleaning or repair, just contact your nearest location. If you’re unsure which location is closest, you can contact any of them – we’ll take care of you.