Dryer vent cleaning is the one chimney-company service in San Antonio that has nothing to do with the weather. The duct behind the dryer fills with lint in July the same as in January, and the city’s two-story homes, where the vent often runs up through the attic and out the roof, are the ones that fill fastest. This post explains what a cleaning includes, why roof exits cost more, what the U.S. Fire Administration’s numbers actually say, the signs that a vent is due, and the City permit that applies if the duct itself is replaced.
San Antonio Chimney Sweeps is a free quote service. We connect San Antonio-area homeowners with independent local chimney sweep, inspection and repair companies for free, no-obligation quotes; many of them clean dryer vents year-round.
What a dryer vent cleaning includes
A cleaning covers the whole exhaust path, not just the lint screen you empty each load. A typical visit from a local company includes:
- The duct run. The technician disconnects the dryer, runs rotary brushes through the full length of rigid duct from the laundry room to the termination, and vacuums the loosened lint out at one end.
- The transition hose and lint-trap housing. The flexible connector behind the dryer and the cavity under the lint screen hold more lint than most people expect.
- The termination. The exterior hood, flap or screen is cleared and checked so it opens freely and closes against rain and birds.
- An airflow check. Once the run is clear, the technician confirms air is moving at the hood and notes any crushed, disconnected or overly long sections.
Cleaning does not include servicing the dryer itself, and it does not include rebuilding the duct. If the technician finds foil or plastic flex duct in a wall or attic, or a run that is too long for the dryer to push, replacement is a separate job with its own permit rules, covered below.
Roof exits and why they cost more
In single-story homes the vent usually exits through a side wall a few feet from the dryer. In two-story homes, and in many one-story homes with the laundry room in the middle of the floor plan, the duct runs up through the attic and out a roof hood. Those runs are longer, have more bends, and end at a termination that has to be reached from the roof, so they collect lint faster and take longer to clean. They are also where bird nests turn up, since a roof hood with a missing screen is an inviting cavity. Companies price roof exits as their own tier for these reasons. See our dryer vent cleaning service page for what a roof-exit visit involves.
What the USFA statistics actually say
The clearest national figures come from the U.S. Fire Administration’s topical report on clothes dryer fires in residential buildings, covering 2008–2010. Quoted directly:
- “An estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.”
- “Failure to clean (34 percent) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition.”
- Incidence “was higher in the fall and winter months, peaking in January at 11 percent.”
- “Dust, fiber, and lint (28 percent) and clothing not on a person (27 percent)” were the leading items first ignited, and “Fifty-four percent… were confined to the object of origin.”
Read plainly, these are modest numbers for a country of well over a hundred million households, and more than half of the fires stayed inside the dryer. The useful takeaway is the first one: the single most common contributing factor was a vent and dryer that had not been cleaned, and that is the one factor a homeowner controls. No San Antonio Fire Department count of dryer fires was found, so we quote only the national report.
Signs a vent needs cleaning
Most homeowners notice the dryer before they think about the vent. The common signs:
- Loads take more than one cycle to dry, especially towels and jeans.
- The top of the dryer and the clothes coming out are hotter than they used to be.
- The laundry room gets warm and humid while the dryer runs.
- A burning or scorched smell during a cycle.
- Lint around the exterior hood, or a hood flap that no longer lifts when the dryer is on.
- It has been a long time, or you do not know when the vent was last cleaned, which is common after buying a home.
A longer drying time is the cheapest signal to act on: a restricted vent makes the dryer run longer for every load, and the fix is a one-visit cleaning in the $100–$200 range (typical national ranges from Fixr (2025) and Angi via Bob Vila (2023) — estimates, not quotes).
When the duct has to be replaced: the City permit
Cleaning an existing duct needs no permit we could find. Replacing or rerouting the duct is different. The City of San Antonio’s Development Services home-remodeling guidance says: “To install HVAC equipment, exhaust fans, kitchen hoods, and dryer ducts a permit is required. The cost is $50, plus the cost of each individual mechanical fixture,” and “Only State licensed contractors can get electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits.” In practice, that means a new dryer duct inside city limits is pulled under a mechanical permit by a contractor who can hold one; a chimney company that finds a bad run will often refer that part out or bring in a mechanical contractor. Outside city limits, permits vary by city; your contractor confirms.
What it costs
Typical national ranges from Fixr (2025) and Angi via Bob Vila (2023) — estimates, not quotes:
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent cleaning (standard wall exit) | $100–$200 (avg about $150) |
| Roof exit | $150–$300 |
| Bird nest in the vent | $150–$400 |
Companies that are already on the roof for a chimney sweep or a cap installation often bundle the dryer vent at a lower add-on price, which is worth asking about in the fall.
Who to call and what to ask
Chimney sweeps, duct-cleaning companies and some HVAC contractors all clean dryer vents; the equipment is similar. Texas has no license for the cleaning itself. Useful questions: whether the technician holds a CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician (C-DET) credential (a private credential; verify on csia.org), whether the price covers a roof exit if that is what you have, whether an airflow check is included, and whether you will get before-and-after photos. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope.
Ready to book? Request a free quote and local companies will reply with pricing for your vent configuration. We usually reply the same day.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in dryer vent cleaning?
A standard visit cleans the full duct from the dryer connection to the outside termination with rotary brushes and a vacuum, clears the lint-trap housing and the transition hose behind the dryer, checks the exterior hood and its flap or screen, and tests airflow once the run is clear. Roof exits, long multi-bend runs and nest removal are usually quoted as add-ons. Ask for the scope in writing.
What are the signs a dryer vent needs cleaning?
Clothes taking more than one cycle to dry, a dryer that is hot to the touch on top, a laundry room that gets warm and humid while it runs, a burning smell, lint collecting around the exterior hood or the hood flap not opening, and more lint than usual on the screen after each load. Any of these is a reason to have the vent checked rather than to turn the dryer up.
How much does dryer vent cleaning cost in San Antonio?
Typical national ranges from Fixr (2025) and Angi via Bob Vila (2023) put dryer vent cleaning at $100–$200 (average about $150), with roof exits at $150–$300 and a bird nest in the vent at $150–$400. These are estimates, not quotes. Price depends on where the vent exits, how long the run is and how many bends it has. A free quote from a local company settles it.