Dryer Vent Cleaning in San Antonio
San Antonio Chimney Sweeps connects San Antonio-area homeowners with independent local chimney sweep, inspection and repair companies for free, no-obligation quotes. Many of the same companies that sweep flues also clean dryer exhaust ducts, including the roof-exit runs on two-story homes, and this is the one service on this site that is in demand all year.
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Why dryer vents get cleaned
The U.S. Fire Administration's topical report on clothes dryer fires (covering 2008–2010) estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings reported to U.S. fire departments each year, causing an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries and $35 million in property loss. In that report, "failure to clean (34 percent) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition," and fires were more common in fall and winter, "peaking in January at 11 percent." Dust, fiber and lint were the leading items first ignited, at 28 percent. Those are national figures and now dated, but they are the clearest published numbers on the problem, and they point at one thing: lint left in the duct.
Lint also costs money before it ever causes a fire. A restricted duct makes the dryer run longer and hotter per load. Companies that clean vents describe the usual signs as loads taking more than one cycle, a dryer that is hot to the touch, a laundry room that smells of hot lint, and a vent hood flap outside that barely moves when the dryer runs. If the hood is on the roof, as it is on many two-story San Antonio homes, nobody sees the flap at all, and the first sign is often a nest.
What a dryer vent cleaning includes
"What is included in dryer vent cleaning" is a rising search for a reason: scopes vary. This is what a complete job normally covers; ask that each item be written into the quote.
Dryer pulled and disconnected
The technician moves the dryer, disconnects the transition hose, and checks that hose: foil or plastic accordion hose is a common failure point and is usually replaced with rigid or semi-rigid metal.
Duct cleaned end to end
A rotary brush on flexible rods, or compressed air with a reverse-blowing nozzle, is run through the full duct from the laundry room to the exterior hood, with a vacuum capturing the lint at one end. Long runs and multi-bend runs through walls and attics take longer and are priced as such.
Hood and screen cleared
The exterior termination is cleared and its flap checked. A screen on the hood catches lint and is often removed; bird nesting material in the hood or the last few feet of duct is a separate line on most price lists.
Roof exits
On two-story homes the duct often terminates through the roof. Roof work means a ladder, fall protection and a roof hood that may be clogged or rusted, which is why it is priced above a wall exit.
Lint-trap housing and airflow check
The lint-trap housing inside the dryer is vacuumed, everything is reconnected with proper clamps, and airflow or back-pressure at the hood is checked with the dryer running to confirm the run is clear.
Dryer vent cleaning cost in San Antonio
Typical national ranges from Fixr (2025) and Angi via Bob Vila (2023) — estimates, not quotes.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Standard dryer vent cleaning | $100–$200 (average about $150) |
| Roof-exit dryer vent | $150–$300 |
| Bird nest in the vent | $150–$400 |
Quotes rise with duct length, the number of bends, attic access and whether a hood or transition hose is replaced. Rerouting or replacing the duct itself is a different job: "dryer ducts" are on the City of San Antonio's list of work that requires a mechanical permit ($50 plus the cost of each fixture, per the City's Home Remodeling FAQ), and the City states that only state-licensed contractors can get mechanical permits. A straightforward cleaning of an existing duct needs no permit we could find. Outside city limits, permits vary by city; your contractor confirms. For comparison with chimney work, see the cost guide.
Who to call, and what to ask
Chimney sweeps, duct-cleaning companies and some HVAC contractors all offer dryer vent cleaning. Texas has no license for the cleaning itself. The credential specific to this work is CSIA's dryer-exhaust credential, C-DET; ask whether the technician holds it, along with proof of insurance and a written scope that lists the steps above. If the company proposes replacing or rerouting the duct, ask who pulls the mechanical permit. For homes where the dryer vent and a fireplace flue both exit the roof, bundling the chimney sweep and the vent cleaning into one roof trip is common and usually cheaper than two visits. Vent cleaning is the year-round service: chimney work peaks before the first freeze (median November 28 at the airport), while dryers run every week of the year. Our dryer vent guide goes deeper on duct materials and roof terminations, and the quote process explains how requests are matched. Rentals: a blocked vent is a maintenance item worth raising with the landlord in writing; see who pays for chimney and vent repairs in a Texas rental.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in a dryer vent cleaning?
A complete job pulls and disconnects the dryer, replaces a damaged transition hose if needed, brushes or air-cleans the full duct from laundry room to exterior hood with a vacuum capturing the lint, clears the hood and its screen, vacuums the lint-trap housing, reconnects everything and checks airflow with the dryer running. Roof exits and nest removal are usually separate lines on the quote.
How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
The U.S. Fire Administration found "failure to clean" the leading factor in clothes dryer fires (34 percent, 2008–2010 data), with incidence peaking in January. Most companies recommend an annual cleaning for a typical household, sooner for long or roof-exit runs, large families, or when loads start taking more than one cycle. A dryer that is hot to the touch is a reason to book now.
Are dryer vents cleaned from inside or outside the house?
Both ends. The technician works from the laundry room, where the dryer is disconnected and the lint-trap housing cleaned, and from the exterior hood, where the termination is cleared and airflow checked. On two-story San Antonio homes the hood is often on the roof, which adds a ladder and roof time and is why roof-exit cleanings are priced at about $150–$300 nationally.
Is dryer vent cleaning worth it, or a waste of money?
The national numbers say it is cheap insurance: an estimated 2,900 residential dryer fires a year in the USFA's 2008–2010 study, 34 percent tied to failure to clean, against a typical cleaning cost of $100–$200. The practical benefit is shorter drying times and a dryer that is not running hot. Ask for before-and-after airflow readings so you can see the difference.
Do I need a permit to replace or reroute a dryer duct in San Antonio?
Cleaning an existing duct needs no City permit we could find. Replacing or rerouting the duct is different: "dryer ducts" appear on the City of San Antonio's list of work needing a mechanical permit, which costs $50 plus fixtures and can be pulled only by a state-licensed contractor, per the City's Home Remodeling FAQ. Outside city limits, permits vary by city; your contractor confirms.
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