Get matched with top dryer vent cleaners in Boyden, IA

While maintaining a clean dryer vent is crucial for your household’s safety, a professional dryer vent cleaning service will do the trick, and replacing the vent isn’t usually necessary. Provided you don’t see any kinks in your vent or damage to the exterior, a cleaning will maintain your home’s safety and will cost you less than a full replacement. You’ll spend an average of $150 on dryer vent cleaning, while a replacement will cost about $225, and both will yield more or less the same result.

Using a leaf blower to clean your dryer vent isn't a good idea. Theoretically, the leaf blower should push the lint and debris toward the exterior vent opening, helping it exit. That's usually not what happens, though. 

Instead, the lint can get stuck further in the vent, creating a blockage and making the problem worse. You need a scrubbing tool, such as the rotating brush head on a dryer cleaning kit, to push the lint out of the ductwork.

You should have your dryer vent cleaned by a professional at least once per year. Over time, lint and other debris from your laundry get caught throughout the vent, causing a few different issues. A less severe problem caused by a clogged dryer vent is extended drying time for your clothes, which increases energy costs. More importantly, lint in a clogged dryer vent can easily catch fire, putting your household members and your home at significant risk. Keep in mind that decades-old dryer vent systems may need increased cleaning, so plan to complete this task twice per year.

You might have dampers if you have a ducted heating and cooling system. To find out for sure, find the main trunk line on your HVAC unit, then look for levers or handles on the ductwork. Contact a local HVAC professional if you can’t find any dampers or want to install some.