Dryer vent cleaning: real costs, safety data and local quotes

A professional dryer vent cleaning costs $80 to $185 for a standard vent (HomeGuide), the NFPA says to have it done once a year, and failure to clean was the leading factor in the estimated 13,820 home dryer fires US fire departments responded to each year in 2014 to 2018. This site answers the questions homeowners and property managers ask about dryer vents, with the source for every number, and sends quote requests to local dryer vent companies.

Quick answers

Question	Short answer	Full answer
What does it cost?	$80 to $185 standard; $150 to $250 roof (HomeGuide)	Cost guide
How often?	Once a year, sooner if drying slows (NFPA)	How often
How do I know it is clogged?	Slow drying, hot clothes, a flap that stays shut (USFA, NFPA)	Warning signs
Can I do it myself?	Yes, for a short run you can reach; a kit costs $15 to $50	How to clean
How long can the vent be?	35 feet, minus an allowance for each elbow (IRC M1502)	Repair and code rules
How common are dryer fires?	4.6% of residential fires with the equipment identified, 2020 to 2024 fire records; NFPA estimates 13,820 home dryer fires a year (2014 to 2018)	Fire statistics

Dryer vent services

Dryer vent cleaningWhat a complete cleaning includes, how long it takes, and how to pick a company. Dryer vent repair and replacementCrushed ducts, foil hoses, broken hoods, reroutes, and a code length calculator. Dryer vent installationNew vents, materials the code allows, roof and indoor vents. Dryer vent replacementReplacing an old hose, duct or outside vent: cost, parts and steps. Apartments, condos and commercialShared systems, who is responsible, and what to put in a contract. Dryer vent cleaning costPrices by floor, problem and company from two published surveys.

Chimney services

Chimney sweepWhat a sweep does, how often, and when chimney fires happen. Chimney sweep costPrices by chimney type and inspection level, from 2025 and 2026 surveys. Chimney inspectionLevels 1, 2 and 3: what each covers, when you need it, what it costs. Chimney repairFlashing, crown, liner and repointing prices, and who to call. Chimney linerInstallation and relining prices, and what the code requires. Chimney capCost to install, replace or repair, and the code rules. Chimney flueWhat the flue is, the sizes and lining the code requires, and how it is kept clean. Chimney flashing repairPrices by chimney size and metal, and the roof code rules. Chimney crown repairRepair and replacement prices, signs of damage, sealing. Chimney fireWhat fire districts say to do, the signs, and when they happen.

Air duct cleaning

Air duct cleaningWhat the job includes, when the EPA says it is worth doing, and how to hire. Air duct cleaning cost$450 to $1,000 per system per the EPA, prices by home size and vents, and $99 deals. Is air duct cleaning worth it?When it pays, when it does not, and the red flags. How often to clean air ductsThe EPA's position next to the industry's 3-to-5-year rule. How to clean air ductsWhat you can do yourself and what needs a duct cleaner.

Dryer vent cleaning by city

How getting quotes works

Tell us what you need in the form: your ZIP code, the service and the best time to call.
We send your request to a dryer vent company that serves your area. If we have no company there yet, we tell you.
The company contacts you to confirm the job and give you a price. You decide whether to book.

The service is free for you. Companies that receive requests through this site may pay us for them, and that is how the site is funded. It does not change what our guides say: no company pays to appear in them. More on who we are.

Why these numbers can be trusted

Every figure on this site comes from a primary source: the NFPA and US Fire Administration reports, the International Residential Code, dryer manufacturer instructions, and published price surveys. Each one is read on the source page while writing, then checked a second time by a script that re-downloads the source and matches the exact figure. Pages show the date they were last updated. See how we verify.

Guides

How to clean a dryer ventNine steps, the tools, and when to stop. Cleaning from outside or on the roofFinding the vent and what not to add to the hood. How often to clean a dryer ventThe schedule for every part, with sources. Signs of a clogged dryer ventSix signs and a five-step check. Dryer fire statisticsNFPA and USFA data, and why the numbers differ. How long can a dryer vent be?The 35-foot rule and the elbow chart. Dryer vent materialsFoil, flexible, PVC and size rules. Can you vent a dryer inside?Garage, attic and ventless dryers. How often should a chimney be swept?Inspected yearly, swept as needed, plus the CSIA soot rule. How to clean a chimney yourselfBrush size, rods, top down or bottom up. Dryer vent booster fansWhat the code allows and what the makers require. Why is my dryer not drying?What six dryer brands say to check, from the lint screen and vent to power and gas. Dryer not heatingWhat Whirlpool, Maytag, LG and Samsung say to check when the drum turns but there is no heat. Dryer lint trapWhere it is, how often to clean it, and when to wash the screen. Dryer vent coversDamper, no screen, hood types and bird guards. Chimney leak repairWhere water gets in and what each fix costs. Fireplace damperHow to work it, open or closed, and replacement cost. Do creosote logs work?What CSIA and the makers' own labels say.

Sources

Vent & Flue analysis of FEMA NFIRS fire records, 2020 to 2024 (dryer fires summary, CSV): dryer-fires-2020-2024-summary.csv. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
HomeGuide, "How much does dryer vent cleaning cost?", page dated April 29, 2024: homeguide.com
NFPA, "Clothes dryer safety" tip sheet: nfpa.org
NFPA, "Home Dryer Fires", Marty Ahrens, June 2020: content.nfpa.org
U.S. Fire Administration, "Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008 to 2010)", August 2012: usfa.fema.gov
International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, section M1502: codes.iccsafe.org