Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my dryer vent needs a cleaning?
Even if your dryer vent is cleaned annually, dryer vents can still accumulate enough lint to hinder the dryer's performance. Here are a few good reasons to call a dryer vent technician:
• The dryer is getting hot, but the clothes still come out damp
• There is wet lint sticking to the inside of the dryer after the cycle has completed
• The dryer is no longer getting hot
• The dryer shows a blockage or low flow warning
If any of these issues sound like something you are experiencing, call us now at (720) 295-2848, or email us at info.codryervent@gmail.com.
How much does a cleaning / installation cost?
For cleanings, we charge a flat rate of $145.
Due to the custom nature of dryer ventilation, we are unable to give quotes for installation without seeing your current setup. There are many different factors that must be considered for dryer vent installation, so we offer a free quote service. We will send out a technician to give you a quote, and it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes of your time! Call us at 720.295.2848 to schedule a free quote.
Do I really NEED a dryer vent cleaning?
Even if you clean the lint trap every time, your dryer vent can still accumulate lint through regular use.
Not having a periodic dryer vent cleaning can cause the dryers heating element to fail, forcing you to pay high dryer repair costs. In some cases, having a clogged duct causes a fire. A clogged dryer vent causes heat to build up in the line, and lint provides the perfect kindling to start a house fire.
We recommend you clean your dryer vent every 12-18 months depending on how frequently you use your dryer. For commercial dryers, such as in laundromats, we recommend more frequent cleanings, every 6-12 months.
Do plastic dryer vents work?
No, not at all. Plastic dryer ducts are a huge fire hazard. We have replaced plastic dryer ducts that had holes burned into them from the heat of the dryer.
Dryer vents should be comprised of a few parts:
• A fire-resistant slinky hose
• Fully ridged solid metal ducts, connected by heat-resistant metal tape
• An open-ended sidewall vent cap or roof vent cap
• (optional) Some ducts have a booster fan to increase airflow in long ducts
Dryer vents should NOT have any of the following:
• Screws used to attach pieces of ducting together
• Cages, bird screens, chicken wire, or anything else obstructing lint from exiting the dryer vent on the exterior vent cap
• ANY plastic pieces
• Semi-ridged hoses
How do I know if I have the right kind of dryer duct?
Dryer vents should be comprised of a few parts:
• A fire-resistant slinky hose cut to be as short as possible, no longer than 8ft
• Fully ridged solid metal ducts, connected by heat-resistant metal tape
• An open-ended sidewall vent cap or roof vent cap – we recommend Braun caps with NO bird screen for roof caps and magnetic vent caps for sidewall vents.
• (optional) Some ducts have a booster fan to increase airflow in long ducts
Dryer vents should NOT have any of the following:
• Screws used to attach pieces of ducting together
• Cages, bird screens, chicken wire, or anything else obstructing lint from exiting the dryer vent on the exterior vent cap
• Plastic ducting or hoses
• Semi-ridged hoses
How long should a dryer vent be?
Code dictates that a dryer vent should be no longer than 25ft in effective airflow length. All that means that you need to account for the obstruction that any right angles cause in the airflow. A good rule of thumb is to add 5ft to the actual length of your duct for each 90° turn in the line. So if your dryer vent is 10ft long but has 2 right angle turns, your 'effective airflow length' is actually 20ft long.
For any duct longer than 25ft straight, we recommend using a booster fan to increase airflow.
How do you guys clean out the dryer vent?
We use custom brushes in our brush & rod system attached to a drill to mechanically remove the lint, and a vacuum to clean it all up.
Do you charge extra to clean dryer vents that go to the roof?
Good question. We do not charge extra for dryer vents that go to the roof.
We are able to clean 95% of vents from the inside, and we typically prefer that method as it does not pose any danger to our technicians. In very rare cases, we will have to get on your roof in order to completely clean your duct. If we have to get on your roof, we ask for a roof charge of $125, as it poses a danger to our technicians.
How long do dryer vent cleanings take?
Cleanings typically take anywhere from 15min – 45min.
Can I clean my vent myself?
This is our #1 question. The short answer is yes, but it's not as easy as it looks.
There are certainly kits available at Home Depot, Lowes, and Amazon that you can use to clean your dryer vent. We've actually had a few customers talk to us, and then decide they're going to do it on their own.
Some of those customers are lucky, and clean their duct effectively without a hitch. More often than not, though, we get calls back to hear that our customers have gotten the brush stuck in the duct, or worse, they've broken their ducting. They end up calling us afterward requesting an extraction or repair, and end up paying hundreds of dollars more than they would have originally.
We make honesty our #1 priorty, so if we think that you could really clean out your dryer vent by yourself without a problem, we will let you know. We are not in the business of pulling peoples' legs, so we seek to inform and ensure the safety of our customers. We work in an industry that few people have knowledge of, and so we see our fair share of customers who have been cheated, exploited, or even just the victims of dryer vent companies who don't know what they're doing. That's why integrity and honesty are so important to us.
Are you guys able to do big repairs?
Yes! Our team of professional dryer vent technicians are trained to do a myriad of repairs and installations. We can do everything from exterior penetration to drywall removal. Just give us a call, or schedule an appointment for a free quote.
Can I put a screen on the vent cap to keep birds and rodents out?
No, any type of screen (even chickenwire) on the vent cap catches lint and creates a clog, which is counterproductive to the goal of cleaning the dryer vent.
If you're concerned about animals in your vent, we offer a magnetic vent cover installation service. Magnetic vent covers only open when the dryer is on and pushing air out; when the dryer is not in use, the vent cover is kept shut using magnets.
It's also a more attractive option that blends in well with house exteriors, for consumers interested in aesthetic upgrades to existing systems.
What areas do you serve?
Right now, for residential cleanings, we only service Denver and the surrounding areas– Aurora, Centennial, Parker, Littleton, Golden, Arvada, Westminster, and Thornton are some examples.
For commercial properties, we service the Southwestern United States, including but not limited to California, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas.
