Dryer vent cleaning
Whole-home duct cleaning
Camera inspection
Sanitizing & deodorizingWhole-system duct and dryer vent check with before-and-after photos - you see exactly what came out of your vents
That "$99 whole-house special" is a bait ad - the real number appears once they are in your hallway, or the "clean" is a shop-vac at the register. We photograph the inside of your ducts before and after instead.
Trusted Dryer Vent Cleaning for San Mateo Homeowners
A clogged dryer vent is the reason a load takes two cycles to dry, and it’s also the reason dryer fires start. The U.S. Fire Administration puts dryer fires at thousands of home fires each year, and the leading cause is lint that never got cleared from the vent path. In San Mateo, we see it most in older homes around Beresford and Hayward Park where the vent run is long and the flexible foil behind the dryer has collapsed under its own weight. Our technicians have up to 10 years of experience and use contractor-grade equipment, not a shop vac. The work is scheduled, the price is agreed before we start, and we take before-and-after photos of the duct path so you can see what came out. Call (866) 894-2153 to set up a visit.
Dryer Vent Cleaning Service
A dryer vent cleaning service is the scheduled clearing of lint, dust and heat-blocking debris from the duct that runs from your dryer to the outside wall or roof. You need it when loads take more than one cycle, when the dryer body feels hot to the touch, or when it’s been a while since the vent was opened up and vacuumed. What we do is specific: we disconnect the dryer, run a Rotobrush rotary brush through the full vent path, and pull dislodged material with Nikro HEPA-filtered negative-air equipment so it’s captured rather than spread into the room. A typical single-family vent in San Mateo runs an estimated $150 to $275, with longer roof runs and heavy buildup landing near the top. The written estimate sets the final price.
What the Rotary Brush Actually Reaches
A rotary brush spins against the vent wall and shears lint off where it has packed and glazed onto the surface. That matters because loose vacuuming only clears what’s sitting free. The brush gets the coating that narrows the pipe.
Why HEPA Containment Matters Indoors
Lint is fine, and air movement through the vent disturbs it. Nikro negative-air equipment holds the debris under pressure and filters the exhaust rather than blowing it into your laundry room. When we’re done, your floor and walls look the way they did when we arrived.
Styles & brands we work with
- Whole-home duct cleaning
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Camera inspection
- Sanitizing & deodorizing
Dryer Vent Installation
Dryer vent installation is the replacement of the vent run itself, not just the flexible hose behind the appliance, and it’s what you need when the existing pipe is crushed, routed wrong, or made of the old flexible foil that sags and traps lint. We install smooth-wall rigid duct in the shortest, straightest path we can manage within the building, seal the joints, and terminate it outside with a proper hood and backdraft flap. We handle this as part of the same specialty as cleaning, so the person who inspects your vent is the person who can fix what’s wrong with it. A full vent installation in San Mateo typically runs an estimated $275 to $550 depending on run length, wall or roof termination, and how much access the install requires. Your written estimate sets the final price.
Rigid Duct versus Flexible Hose
Rigid smooth-wall duct doesn’t have the ridges that catch lint, and it holds its shape where the run turns. It’s also easier to brush clean later. Flexible foil is fine for the short connector between the dryer and the wall, and nowhere else.
Getting the Run Length Right
Manufacturers publish a maximum equivalent vent length for each dryer, and every 90-degree elbow cuts into that allowance. A run that’s too long or too bendy will trap lint and cut airflow no matter how often it’s cleaned. We measure before we quote.
Dryer Vent Repair
Dryer vent repair covers the damaged connections and terminations that cleaning alone can’t fix: a crushed flex connector, a hood that no longer opens, a joint that has pulled apart inside the wall cavity, or a bird screen clogged shut with lint. You need it whenever the vent can’t move air the way it should even after a cleaning. We combine repair with cleaning rather than treating them as separate trades, so a compromised vent gets corrected in the same visit. Repair work in San Mateo usually comes in around an estimated $120 to $350 depending on what’s failed and how accessible it is, and a repair that includes a new termination or re-routed section can land higher. The written estimate sets the final price before anything starts.
The Connector Behind the Dryer
That short piece of flex hose is where most crush damage happens, because dryers get pushed back against the wall and the hose folds. A crushed connector strangles airflow even when the rest of the run is clear. Replacing it with a semi-rigid connector solves the problem.
Terminations, Hoods and Flaps
The outside hood is the last place lint exits, and it’s the first place a screen can plug. We check that the flap opens freely and that the termination is clear of nests, paint and debris. We also replace hoods that have lost their flap, since an open pipe invites cold air, pests and water back inside.
Dryer Vent Cleaning Company
A dryer vent cleaning company is the specialist you call when you want the vent path cleared by someone who does this work repeatedly, with the right tools, rather than a generalist crew that also cleans carpets. Duct Cleaning San Mateo is a specialist: our three services are air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, and air duct repair, which means every visit falls inside the same trade. We use Rotobrush and Nikro equipment, carry Abatement Technologies gear for heavily contaminated systems, and are familiar with Honeywell and Aprilaire air-quality components when filtration comes up afterward. A routine single-vent cleaning in San Mateo runs an estimated $150 to $275, and multiplies for multiple dryers or long roof runs. The written estimate sets the final price.
Why a Specialist Rather Than an Upsell
The tools are the difference. A rotary brush rig costs more than a shop vac and takes training to run through a tight vent run without damaging it. A crew that does this every working day knows how lint packs at the elbows and where a run is likely to have failed.
What to Ask Before You Book
Ask what equipment will be used and whether debris is captured or blown. Ask if the company can repair a vent it finds damaged, or if it will tell you to find someone else. Ask for before-and-after photos of your own ducts. You should also know whether the price is per job or per vent.
Dryer Vent Inspection
A dryer vent inspection is a look at the entire path from the back of the dryer to the outside termination, and you need one when the dryer underperforms, when you’ve just moved into a San Mateo home and don’t know the vent’s history, or when it’s been a while since anyone opened it up. We check the connector, the full run through wall or ceiling, every elbow, the joint seals, and the outside hood. We confirm the flap opens with airflow, that no screen is blocked, and that the termination isn’t buried under a deck or a hedge. Inspection is included in the cleaning visit at no extra charge on a standard access vent; an inspection-only visit with a written report runs a small standalone fee that your estimate will spell out, and the cleaning itself sits in the estimated $150 to $275 range for a single-family run in San Mateo.
What We Look For in the Run
We look for crushed sections, separated joints, sagging flex and lint packed hard against the wall of the duct. We also check that the run hasn’t been re-routed or extended by a previous owner without proper support. Any of these can mean the vent needs repair, not just cleaning.
The Outside Termination Check
Many dryers struggle because the outside hood is clogged, painted shut or blocked by a screen that’s full of lint. We clear the termination and confirm the flap swings open when the dryer runs. That single check resolves a surprising share of slow-drying complaints.
Commercial Dryer Vent Cleaning
Commercial dryer vent cleaning covers dryers in laundromats, apartment common laundry rooms, gyms, salons, small hotels and rental properties, where the load count is high enough that lint accumulates far faster than in a home. San Mateo has a lot of multi-unit rental stock and a steady stream of small commercial laundry rooms, and those vents need scheduled service rather than a call once the dryer stops working. We run brushes through each vent path and use Abatement Technologies and Nikro HEPA equipment to contain what comes loose, so debris doesn’t settle onto common-area surfaces. Commercial work is quoted per property by written estimate after we count dryers and measure run lengths, and per-dryer ranges typical for a single-family home don’t apply when there are dozens of cycles running each day.
Scheduling Around Building Operations
Laundry rooms need to stay usable, so we plan the work so you aren’t left without drying capacity for long. We can work through a bank of dryers systematically and log what each vent produced. Property managers get a record of the visit.
When Building Vents Need Repair Too
Multi-unit vent runs are often longer and pass through shared chases, where a failed joint can let lint into a wall cavity. When we find that during a cleaning, we flag it and quote the repair. Our duct cleaning San Mateo work runs into the same building chases, and the two jobs get coordinated rather than booked separately.
Brands We Service
We service Rotobrush rotary cleaning systems and know where their brush heads and drive cables wear out after heavy use. We also work with Nikro HEPA negative-air units and understand their filtration stages well enough to know when a filter needs changing and when airflow has dropped because a pre-filter is saturated.
Abatement Technologies equipment is in our kit for contaminated and compromised ductwork, the same class of gear used in professional mold and contaminant removal work. On the air-quality side, we’re familiar with Honeywell and Aprilaire filtration and humidity components, which lets us make an informed recommendation if your cleaning turns up a filtration problem. We work with Guardsman products where they fit a job. None of this makes us a dealer for any of them. Whether you have Rotobrush-compatible equipment in your home or any other make of dryer and vent setup, we can help.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Loads take two cycles to dry. When a normal load needs a second run, airflow through the vent has dropped, often because lint is packed at an elbow or the outside hood has plugged. The dryer is working harder and running longer.
- The dryer body or the laundry room feels hot. Heat that has nowhere to go stays in the appliance and the room. That’s a sign the vent is blocked somewhere along the run and worth checking before another load goes in.
- You smell a scorched or musty odor. A hot, dusty smell near the dryer is the one to take seriously. It means lint near the heat source is getting hot, and it’s a reason to stop using the dryer until the vent is cleared.
- The outside flap doesn’t move when the dryer runs. Step outside while the dryer is on. If the hood flap stays shut, air isn’t reaching the termination, which points to a blockage or a crushed run.
- Lint is collecting around the dryer or on the wall. Visible lint outside the appliance means the vent path is leaking somewhere, and a leaking joint inside a wall cavity can accumulate lint where you can’t see it.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
We start with an inspection and a plan. We pull the dryer out, check the connector, and trace the full run to the termination. We measure run length and count elbows so we know what we’re dealing with before tools come out, and we tell you what we found.
- 2
We set up containment. Nikro HEPA negative-air equipment goes in before any brushing begins, so dislodged lint is captured at the source. This is the step that keeps your laundry room clean and your indoor air where it was.
- 3
We brush the full vent path. A Rotobrush rotary brush runs the length of the duct, shearing packed lint off the walls rather than just pulling what’s loose. We work section by section through every elbow and turn.
- 4
We clear and confirm the termination. We check the outside hood, clear any screen or debris, and confirm the flap opens with airflow. Then we run the dryer and verify strong exhaust at the termination before we call the job done.
- 5
We photograph the result and quote any repair. You get before-and-after images of your own vent path, not stock photos. If we found crushing, a failed joint or a bad hood, we quote the repair in writing and you decide.
How Much Does Dryer Vent Cleaning Cost in San Mateo?
A typical dryer vent cleaning in San Mateo runs $150 to $275 for a standard single-family vent with reasonable access, and the price moves up for long roof runs, heavily packed lint or a vent that needs the dryer pulled and reconnected. A vent installation, where the run itself has to be replaced, usually lands between $275 and $550. Repair of a crushed connector, a bad joint or a failed hood typically comes in around $120 to $350 depending on access. These are estimates and the written estimate you get before work starts is what sets the final price.
Several things affect where you land in that range. Run length and the number of elbows matter, because every turn takes longer to brush and clean properly. Roof terminations take more setup than a wall termination at waist height. Heavy, glazed lint that has been building for years takes more passes than a vent cleaned on a routine schedule. Accessibility counts too: a dryer in a tight closet or a stacked unit changes the labor.
To avoid overpaying, ask for a whole-job price rather than a per-vent or per-foot number that grows once the technician is on site. Ask whether inspection, containment and the before-and-after photos are included, and whether the company can repair a vent it finds damaged or will hand you a second phone number. Our estimates are free, the price is agreed per job before work starts, and there’s no per-vent pricing. If you’re also wondering about the rest of your ductwork, our Duct Cleaning San Mateo page covers that side.
Our Service Area Near San Mateo
We schedule dryer vent work throughout San Mateo and the surrounding Peninsula, including Burlingame, Millbrae, Foster City, Belmont, Hillsborough, Redwood City, and out to Moss Beach. Farther south along the coast we cover dryer vent cleaning, and inland we handle dryer vent cleaning. Drive times on the 101 and 92 corridors shape our arrival windows, so the estimate you receive will include a realistic one. Call and we’ll tell you what’s open.
Serving San Mateo, CA – Our Local Coverage Area
We serve San Mateo and nearby communities. Use the map below to see the area we cover. If you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dryer Vent Cleaning in San Mateo
Dryer vent cleaning is the mechanical removal of lint, dust and debris from the duct that carries hot, moist air from your dryer to the outdoors. It goes beyond the short hose behind the appliance and covers the full run through the wall or ceiling to the outside termination. We use a rotary brush to shear packed lint off the duct walls and HEPA negative-air equipment to capture what comes loose. If you’ve never had it done and you’ve been in the house a while, it’s worth a look.
A standard single-family vent in San Mateo takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on run length and access. A short, straight wall vent at waist height is on the fast end; a long roof run through a tight chase takes longer. Installation and repair work add time, and we’ll give you a realistic window with the estimate. Call (866) 894-2153 and we’ll talk through your setup.
Most single-family dryer vents in San Mateo fall in the $150 to $275 estimated range, with installation work at $275 to $550 and repairs around $120 to $350 depending on what’s failed. The final number comes from the written estimate, which is free and set per job rather than per vent. Long runs, roof terminations and heavy buildup push toward the top of the range. Call (866) 894-2153 for an exact quote.
We use Rotobrush rotary cleaning systems and Nikro HEPA negative-air equipment as our working tools on every vent we clean. That means the same class of equipment commercial and industrial contractors rely on, rather than a portable shop vac. We know how the brush heads and drives wear, and we know where airflow drops when a HEPA filter is saturated. If your building has air-quality components from Honeywell or Aprilaire, we’ll flag anything worth a closer look.
Same-day visits are often possible when you call early. We answer 24/7, and fast dispatch runs 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday. A call outside dispatch hours gets booked into the next opening. Call (866) 894-2153 and we’ll tell you what’s available.
We stand behind the cleaning and any repair we perform, and we’ll talk through the specifics of your job before we start so there are no surprises. Before-and-after photos of your own vent path give you a record of what was done and what came out. If something we repaired doesn’t hold, call us and we’ll come back out. Ask about coverage for your specific service when you book.
Clear the area in front of the dryer so we can pull it out, and move anything breakable off the machine’s top. If you can, empty the lint trap beforehand and make sure we have a path to the outside termination, whether that’s a wall, a roof or a side yard. You don’t need to disconnect anything. Call (866) 894-2153 with any access questions before we arrive.
Schedule Your Dryer Vent Cleaning Service in San Mateo Today
If your dryer is taking two cycles or the outside flap isn’t moving, the vent is telling you something. Call (866) 894-2153 for a free estimate on dryer vent cleaning in San Mateo. We answer 24/7, dispatch runs 7am to 7pm Sunday through Friday, the price is agreed per job before work starts, and you get before-and-after photos of your own vent path. No obligation, no surprises.
Written by the team at Duct Cleaning San Mateo.