Ducts and vents play a vital role in the maintenance of safe living conditions indoors. To achieve this, they need to function all year round. This continuous service also requires periodic cleaning.
It may occur to some that dryer vent cleaning can cost a lot and avoid the topic altogether. However, its importance cannot be stressed enough. Surprisingly, dryer vent cleaning prices aren’t that high when you compare them.
Here we discuss in detail every aspect of dryer vent cleaning prices and show you ways you can reduce these costs substantially.
Let’s get started!
If you’re not already aware, cleaning dryer vents are mandatory for several significant reasons. Dryer vents pump out large quantities of hot air, steam, and lint from modern dryers. Over time, deposits such as lint, dust, debris, and even birds nests can form along the pathway. Once the airflow is obstructed, multiple problems start to surface.
Obstructed airflow can cause the efficiency of dryer vents to plummet. This wastes a lot of electricity and can cause your bills to rise. Moreover, obstruction in the vents can have catastrophic consequences such as fire breakouts.
To prevent this, frequent cleaning is enforced by homeowner’s associations all across the US. The frequent cleaning will come at a cost and we are here to make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for.
Dryer vents need cleaning frequently and this can rack up costs, but how much? Dryer vent cleaning costs are relatively low, especially when compared to the cost of the implications of not cleaning them at all. Damage repair costs far exceed frequent dryer vent cleaning.
If you burn down your house, you might have to pay over $100,000 in repairs as most insurance companies don’t cover dryer vent fires. Let’s get down to basics and discuss how much it costs to have your dryer vents cleaned.
The pricing can depend on a lot of factors but to put it bluntly, you can expect to pay $130 on average. The prices can be as low as $60.
These average costs cover basic duct cleaning but may change depending on the region or state. Furthermore, it can also change depending on other factors that need additional attention. The additional services are determined depending on what your technicians find upon inspection.
Pricing for Inspection
Before conducting dryer vent cleaning, your HVAC technician needs to carry out a thorough inspection of your entire dryer vent system. On average, a dryer vent inspection will cost you somewhere between $30 and $60.
It is advised by concerned authorities that an annual inspection must be carried out to maintain safety. Dryer vent inspection costs are determined by your technicians and you may negotiate with them if necessary.
Dryer vent cleaning prices can depend on quite a lot of factors. The prices can drastically increase for multiple reasons. One of the major reasons is poor maintenance. Ignoring your dryer vent for long periods of time can result in damages or the requirement of deeper and more thorough cleaning. We’ve addressed those issues in detail.
There are three separate stages of dryer vent cleaning that can determine its depth and the attention given towards each detail. There are three separate stages with varying degrees of cleaning. Low-end cleaning costs less and is simply a sort of maintenance.
Mid-range cleaning costs more but probes deeper into the vents. High-end cleaning costs more but involves the disassembly of the entire system to conduct the cleaning.
Depending on where your dryer vent is located, its price may vary. It all boils down to how accessible your dryer vent is to technicians. The harder it is to reach, the more it may cost. You could expect an additional $40 increase when cleaning the toughest areas.
Multiple dryer vent cleaning companies may charge different fees. It depends on their expertise and how long they’ve been in the business. You can expect different cleaners to charge varying degrees of fees. You could simply choose the right duct cleaning company to get the perfect pricing structure.
Upon inspection, there might be additional services required when conducting dryer vent cleaning. Dryer vents that have been left uncleaned for long periods of time can accumulate unwanted contents such as lint, dust, molds, and even birds' nests.
Oftentimes, it could require the installation of new parts and all this can rack up the costs substantially. To prevent such cases, it is advisable to regularly have your dryer vents inspected.
To add to these, other variables influence dryer vent costs. It is often seen that the season, vent type, vent length, and other obstructions can make dryer vent cleaning prices fluctuate. Keeping these in mind, you can draw up an estimate of how much it would cost altogether.
Dryer vents are comparatively cheaper than cleaning entire air duct systems. However, the dangers they pose can be catastrophic if left unattended. If you’re worried about cleaning costs, there are ways you can reduce them. We’ve listed a few effective tips on how you can reduce dryer vent cleaning costs substantially.
Most dryer vent cleaning is conducted to get rid of bird nests clogging the exhaust. Apparently, dryer vent exhausts are a favorite for birds to build their nests but sometimes, the hot air coming out of the exhaust kills the birds and keeps them stuck there.
Having bird nests clogging vents can rack up cleaning costs, especially if you are in an area where your dryer vent is prone to bird nests. A simple but effective way to reduce costs for bird nests is to use a bird guard at the exhaust.
This device is a simple mesh blocking birds from entering the exhaust and causing destruction. This prevents birds from nesting and keeps your dryer vent flowing freely and substantially decreases cleaning costs.
Lint cleaning is something that needs regular attention. Lint accumulation is inevitable and can often result in the need to clean more often which only adds to the costs.
Keeping out lint is not impossible as there are lint traps available that drastically reduce its accumulation. As a result, installing lint traps will help reduce costs with fewer maintenance cleanings required.
This device can be cleaned manually and doesn’t require skilled professionals for installation. Lint traps are a simple solution to a complex problem that could otherwise result in massive fire breakouts and high cleaning costs.
Dryer vent cleaning kits were invented to help with DIY cleaning which in turn helps reduce dryer vent cleaning costs. These kits are usually available everywhere with most households owning one.
With this, you can conduct surface-level cleaning and maintain the integrity of your dryer vents. It is a known fact that if you maintain the cleanliness of your dryer vents with a cleaning kit, you will notice the dryer vent has remained fresh in the long run.
It will greatly reduce cleaning costs and extend the lifetime of your dryer vent. A simple cleaning can go a long way in preventing a lot of unwanted issues and a dryer vent cleaning kit is a viable option.
A little on the expensive side, dryer vent booster fans stand as a good option to make your dryers more effective while also reducing the overall cleaning costs. Vent booster fans accomplish efficiency by increasing the airflow through the ducts.
This results in better air ventilation that doesn’t allow dust and debris accumulation and blows out any layer of dust blocking vents. They also speed up the expulsion of lint that often requires a stronger air current to remove.
Installing a dryer vent booster fan will reduce the frequency of cleaning your dryer vents might need.
DIY cleaning might sound troublesome but it stands as a good option that will only show its benefits in the long run. Dryer vents aren’t too complex and don’t require a high level of skill to conduct surface-level cleaning. If you take the responsibility to clean out your dryer vents once a month, it can exponentially reduce the price you would otherwise need to pay experts.
Here is a very simple method that you can use to clean your dryer vents and save costs on dryer vent cleaning while protecting yourself from future catastrophes.
Step 1
Unscrew and remove the dryer vent attachments and covers. Dryer vents aren’t usually too complicated to take off and will require the removal of a few screws and duct tape. Remember to remove the exhaust covers too as this makes for a thorough cleaning.
Step 2
Use a brush and vacuum cleaner or blower to clean out the dryer vent with precision. Work your way around the inner grooves and loosen the lint in the dryer vent lining.
Step 3
Once that has been completed and you feel you’ve done adequate cleaning, put everything back in place while making sure you’ve fastened the screws and covered any empty places with duct tape. For maintenance, it doesn't require such deep cleaning as surface-level cleaning on a regular basis can prevent the accumulation altogether.
Dryer vents are simple structures that homeowners can clean themselves. It is only difficult if the vent is in an inaccessible location and technicians would be required. We advise you to rely on experts when conducting dryer vent cleaning. It might be pricey but at the end of the day it all boils down to how effectively the dryer vent is cleaned.
To sum it all up, If you’re not going to clean your dryer vent regularly, cleaning costs are bound to increase. The cost of cleaning dryer vents pales in comparison to the damage it may cost if left unattended. These prices mentioned above have all been revised for 2022. Have your dryer vents cleaned by a professional and prevent future catastrophes.
