Dryer vent & air duct cleaning questions

We work in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. See our service areas for the markets and towns we cover, or call or text us your ZIP code.

Call or text us. For the quickest answer, text a photo of what you need cleaned, like where your dryer vent comes out or your outdoor AC unit, along with your ZIP code, and we’ll send back an exact price.

We’re a sister company of Guru Gutter Cleaning. We focus on dryer vents, air ducts, outdoor AC units and cobwebs, and we have our own phone line for booking.

We confirm what you want cleaned and the price before we start, protect the work area, do the cleaning and send you before-and-after photos. If we notice something outside what we do, we point it out so you can call the right trade.

For dryer vents and air ducts, yes, an adult needs to be home, because we work inside. For outside-only jobs like outdoor AC units and cobweb removal, you may not need to be, as long as we can reach the work area; ask when you book.

Clear a path to the dryer and the laundry area, move anything stored in front of registers or return grilles, and unlock any gates to the yard. That’s all we need to get started.

Yes. We just ask that pets stay in another room, in a crate or indoors while we work, since doors will be opening and equipment will be running. Tell us about your pets when you book so we can plan around them.

We go over payment options when you book, so there are no surprises on the day. Ask us if you need a receipt or invoice for your records.

Call or text us to book, and do the same if you need to move your appointment. The sooner you let us know, the easier it is to find a new time.

Yes, ask when you book. Dryer vent and air duct cleaning are a common pair, and an outdoor AC unit rinse or cobweb removal can be added to the same trip.

Once a year for most homes. NFPA recommends cleaning lint out of the vent once a year, or more often if clothes start taking longer than normal to dry.

Source: NFPA, Clothes Dryer Safety tip sheet

About an hour for most homes. Long runs, roof or second-story vents, heavy buildup or a nest in the vent can take longer, and we’ll tell you up front if we expect that.

The most common sign is clothes still damp at the end of a normal cycle, or drying that takes longer than it used to. CPSC also suggests checking the outside vent while the dryer runs: if exhaust air isn’t coming out, the vent or duct may be blocked.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Publication 5022

Yes. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported each year, and failure to clean was the leading factor, at 34% (2008–2010 data). Those fires rise in fall and winter and peak in January.

Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008–2010)

Stop using the dryer until the vent and lint areas are cleared. Dust, fiber and lint were the leading items first ignited in residential dryer fires, at 28% (U.S. Fire Administration, 2008–2010 data), so a hot-lint smell is worth taking seriously. If you ever see smoke or flames, get out and call 911.

Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008–2010)

You can clean a short, easy-to-reach vent. CPSC recommends cleaning the vent and exhaust duct periodically and notes you may need to disconnect the duct from the dryer to clear a blockage. Long runs, vents with several turns and roof vents are where a professional cleaning makes sense.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Publication 5022

Not as your vent. CPSC recommends replacing plastic or foil accordion-type duct with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, because the flexible kind traps lint more easily and kinks or crushes. The 2021 International Residential Code allows one listed transition hose (UL 2158A) behind the dryer, no longer than 8 feet and not hidden in a wall; check your local amendments.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Publication 5022

Under the 2021 International Residential Code, a dryer exhaust duct can run up to 35 feet, minus 5 feet for each 90-degree turn and 2.5 feet for each 45-degree turn, unless the dryer maker’s instructions allow a different length. Local amendments can change this, so check with your local building department. Our dryer vent code guide walks through an example.

Source: 2021 International Residential Code, Section M1502

Domestic booster fans are not allowed under the 2021 International Residential Code. A listed dryer exhaust duct power ventilator (UL 705), installed to its maker’s instructions, is allowed. Check your local amendments before installing either.

Source: 2021 International Residential Code, Section M1502

No. The 2021 International Residential Code prohibits screens at the dryer vent termination and requires a backdraft damper instead. A screen catches lint and clogs, so look for a cover with a working flap and no mesh, and check your local amendments.

Source: 2021 International Residential Code, Section M1502

No. The dryer vent is a single duct from your dryer to the outside, and the code requires it to be independent of all other systems, so air duct cleaning doesn’t touch it. See air duct cleaning if you’re thinking about both.

Source: 2021 International Residential Code, Section M1502

Slightly. NFPA reports that the risk of fire is slightly higher for gas-fueled clothes dryers than for electric ones, and recommends having a gas dryer checked by a qualified professional to make sure the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks. We clean vents on both kinds, but we don’t work on gas lines.

Source: NFPA, Clothes Dryers and Washing Machines Fact Sheet

A dryer vent cleaning company, like us. Appliance technicians repair the dryer itself, but cleaning the vent from the dryer to the outside hood is its own job. Call or text us a photo of where your vent comes out and we’ll give you a price.

Yes. Roof and second-story vents take more setup than a ground-level wall vent, so tell us where yours comes out when you call or text, ideally with a photo.

Stop using the dryer until it’s cleared, because nests of small birds and animals can block the vent. We pull out the nesting material, clean the run and show you photos. Afterward, use a vent cover with a working damper and no screen, since the code doesn’t allow screens at the termination.

Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008–2010)

It is when there’s a specific reason. The EPA suggests considering it when there’s substantial visible mold inside hard-surface ducts, when ducts are infested with rodents or insects, or when so much dust and debris has built up that it comes out of the supply registers. Our guide Is air duct cleaning worth it? goes through each one.

Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

The service isn’t, but some offers are. NADCA warns about “blow-and-go” companies that advertise low prices, do minimal cleaning and then push extra services, and says being told you have mold without a proper look is a common red flag.

Source: NADCA (Breathing Clean), Avoid the Scams

Only when they need it. The EPA doesn’t recommend cleaning ducts routinely, only as needed, and warns against companies that push duct cleaning as a regular, every-few-years job. If you’re not sure, ask us to look and show you photos first.

Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

Not the way most ads suggest. The EPA says studies don’t conclusively show that dust levels in homes rise because of dirty ducts, and that a light amount of household dust in ducts poses no known health risk. Duct cleaning has never been shown to prevent health problems, so we don’t sell it as a fix for allergies or asthma.

Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

Don’t count on it. The EPA says little evidence exists that cleaning only the ducts improves a system’s efficiency, so we don’t promise savings.

Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

Substantial mold you can see inside hard ducts is one of the EPA’s reasons to clean, but the moisture causing it has to be found and fixed first, or the mold comes back. We clean ducts; we don’t do mold remediation, and we’ll tell you if what we see needs a mold professional.

Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

Usually not. The EPA and NADCA both say chemical treatments should only be considered after the ducts are mechanically cleaned, and only with EPA-registered products. The EPA also notes no products are currently registered as biocides for fiberglass duct board or fiberglass-lined ducts.

Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

It’s the method NADCA describes for proper cleaning. Brushes, air whips or compressed-air nozzles loosen debris inside the ducts while the system is held under continuous negative pressure, so the loosened dust is pulled out and collected instead of blowing into your home.

Source: NADCA, Proper Cleaning Methods

Most homes take several hours. NADCA notes the time depends on the size of the system and the home, access and how dirty the ducts are, and we’ll give you a time estimate when we quote.

Source: NADCA (Breathing Clean), Cost & Time Estimates

It shouldn’t. The EPA says a duct cleaner should protect carpet and furniture, use vacuum equipment that exhausts outside or HEPA vacuuming, use soft-bristled brushes on fiberglass duct board, and close and re-insulate any access holes. Ask any company you’re considering, including us, how they handle each one.

Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

No. NADCA membership and certification are voluntary, and the EPA doesn’t certify duct cleaning companies at all, so be wary of anyone who claims EPA approval. If a company says it’s a NADCA member, you can look it up in NADCA’s online directory.

Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

Get written estimates from at least three companies, ask each to show you the contamination that makes cleaning worthwhile, and check references. The EPA also says to skip any company that makes sweeping health claims or recommends duct cleaning as a routine job.

Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

No. The dryer vent is a separate duct that runs from your dryer to the outside, and it isn’t part of your heating and cooling ductwork. Ask for dryer vent cleaning by name if you want both done.

Not always. NADCA describes a full system cleaning as including the coils, drain pan, blower, registers and more, not only the ducts. Ask any company, including us, to put in writing exactly which parts are being cleaned.

Source: NADCA, Proper Cleaning Methods

Yes, when you can see leaves, clippings or dirt built up on the coil fins. ENERGY STAR lists cleaning the condenser coil among the things to do for a cooling system, because dirty coils make the system run longer and raise energy costs.

Source: ENERGY STAR

Once a year before summer works for most homes, plus an extra rinse after heavy pollen or cottonwood season, or if mowing keeps sending clippings into it. ENERGY STAR suggests getting the cooling system ready in spring.

Source: ENERGY STAR

Yes, gently. Turn the system off at the thermostat, clear away leaves and sticks, and rinse the fins with a regular garden hose on a soft spray, not a jet setting. Don’t open panels or aim water into the electrical parts.

No. The coil fins are thin aluminum, and the Department of Energy notes they can bend and block airflow. A pressure washer can flatten them, so stick to a gentle garden-hose rinse.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver (archived December 2025)

No. AC unit cleaning is the outdoor condenser, the metal box outside your house. Air duct cleaning is the ductwork inside your home that carries air to each room, and air duct cleaning has its own page.

Don’t count on it. If your system isn’t cooling, the Department of Energy says to hire a professional technician who can check the refrigerant and find the problem. We rinse the outdoor coil only, and we don’t diagnose or repair A/C systems.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver (archived December 2025)

The condenser coil is in the outdoor unit and gets rid of heat from your house. The evaporator coil is indoors at the air handler, where it absorbs heat from the air. We clean the outside of the condenser only.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver (archived December 2025)

Keep plants trimmed back at least two feet. The Department of Energy recommends keeping the area around the condenser clean and trimming foliage back at least two feet so the unit gets enough air.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver (archived December 2025)

For a central air conditioner, yes: the Department of Energy says covering the outdoor unit protects it from winter weather and debris. If you have a heat pump, don’t cover it, because a cover keeps the system from heating your home properly.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver (archived December 2025)

No. Bent fins do block airflow, but we don’t straighten fins; the Department of Energy says that’s work for a qualified HVAC contractor with a fin comb. If we see bent fins, we show you in the photos.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver (archived December 2025)

No. A rinse of the outdoor coil doesn’t go near the refrigerant, and we don’t touch refrigerant lines or connections at all. Refrigerant work belongs to a licensed technician.

Yes. A heat pump’s outdoor unit has the same kind of coil, and we rinse it the same gentle way. Just remember the Department of Energy says not to cover a heat pump’s outdoor unit in winter.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver (archived December 2025)

Many homeowners clear webs in late spring and again in fall. Webs are most noticeable in late summer and fall, when orb weaver spiders and their webs have grown bigger, so a fall sweep catches the worst of it.

Source: University of Illinois Extension, Fall is spider season

Orb weaver spiders appear in spring and grow through the summer, so by fall the spiders and their webs are big enough to notice, according to University of Illinois Extension. In Georgia and the Carolinas, Joro spiders add to it. More in our guide: why so many spider webs show up in fall.

Source: University of Illinois Extension, Fall is spider season

Not permanently, and we don’t promise it. Removing webs clears the house today, and University of Illinois Extension notes that when a web keeps getting removed from an unwanted spot, the spider usually moves it.

Source: University of Illinois Extension, Fall is spider season

No. We don’t apply pesticides or treat for spiders or other pests; that’s licensed pest control work. We remove webs, egg sacs and debris by hand with brushes and poles.

No. NC State Extension says that despite their large size, Joro spiders pose no threat to humans, and their mild venom causes symptoms similar to a bee sting in most cases.

Source: NC State Extension Forestry, Joro Spiders in North Carolina

Late summer into fall. UGA Extension reports mature Joro spiders show up in late July and August, with observations peaking in September and October.

Source: UGA Extension, Circular 1273: Joro Spider

Take them down with a long stick, broom or telescoping pole, as UGA Extension suggests. UGA advises against using insecticides on Joro spiders over large areas, because those products kill helpful insects too. For high eaves and porch ceilings, we can take the webs down for you.

Source: UGA Extension, Circular 1273: Joro Spider

Most people use the words for the same thing. “Cobweb” usually means an old, dusty or abandoned web, while a spider web can be a fresh one with the spider still in it. We remove both.

It’s web cleaning only: webs, egg sacs and the debris caught in them. We don’t apply pesticides and we don’t remove the nests of stinging insects — that’s licensed pest-control work.

It depends mainly on where the vent comes out (a ground-level wall, a second story or the roof), how long the run is, and whether there’s heavy buildup or a nest. As a benchmark, Angi reports a national average of about $140. Text us a photo of where your vent exits for an exact price, or see our dryer vent cleaning cost guide.

Source: Angi, How Much Does Dryer Vent Cleaning Cost?

The price depends on how many heating and cooling systems you have, how many supply vents and returns, the size of the home, how easy the ducts are to reach and how dirty they are. The EPA puts typical duct cleaning at $450 to $1,000 per system. Call or text us those details for an exact price, or see our air duct cleaning cost guide.

Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

It depends on how many outdoor units you have, how clogged the coils are and how easy the units are to reach. HomeAdvisor reports $75 to $200 for an outdoor condenser coil cleaning. Text us a photo of your units for an exact price, or see our AC unit cleaning cost guide.

Source: HomeAdvisor, How Much Does It Cost to Clean AC Coils?

It depends on the size and height of the house and how many porches, light fixtures and windows need clearing. There’s no standard published price for exterior cobweb removal in Georgia or the Carolinas, so text us a photo of the front of the house for an exact price.

Because $99 doesn’t cover a proper whole-house cleaning. NADCA warns homeowners about “$99 whole house specials,” which tend to clean only part of the system and lead to upsells once the crew is inside. Our $99 duct cleaning guide explains how those offers work.

Source: NADCA, Frequently Asked Questions About Residential Air Duct Cleaning

Most jobs can be priced over the phone or from a photo you text us, with no visit needed. If a job has to be seen in person first, we’ll tell you up front whether that visit has a charge.