What happens when we first arrive?
The first thing we look at is the outside cap.
In Mustang, that cap takes a beating year-round. The wind in Central Oklahoma pushes red-dirt dust and pollen into the vent opening constantly. In spring, storm debris can pack the cap solid from the outside. We check whether air is even getting through before we bring any tools inside.
After that, we pull the dryer away from the wall. We want to see what duct connects the dryer to the wall. Rigid metal is the right material. Many homes in Canadian County use foil flex instead because it is cheaper to install. The problem is that foil kinks and crushes over time. Every kink is a spot where lint builds up fast. We note what type you have before we do anything else.
How do we run the brush through the duct?
We connect a rotating brush head to the duct opening at the back of the dryer. The brush spins as we push it forward. It knocks lint loose from the duct walls through the full length of the run. At the same time, a vacuum pulls the loosened lint back out. That way none of it settles somewhere else in the duct.
We cover the full run from the dryer connection to the outside cap. If the duct has bends, we work through each one. Bends are where lint packs hardest. Homes here average about 39 years old. Older ducts often have extra connections or extension pieces from past repairs. Each extra joint is another spot where lint collects.
What do we typically find in a Mustang vent?
Lint is always in there. That is what we are there for.
Beyond the lint, in Mustang we regularly find red Oklahoma dirt packed into the cap opening. Pollen is heavy here and the wind drives it into the vent. In the spring, we find bird nests fairly often. Birds are drawn to dryer vent terminations because the opening is warm and sheltered from the wind. A nest can block a vent as badly as a packed lint clog. We remove it and show you what came out.
We also check for signs of moisture while we are cleaning. Mustang sees big humidity swings through the year. When a vent is not moving air well, moisture sits in the duct. That can lead to a musty smell from the dryer. Our dryer vent troubleshooting guide covers what that looks like if you are already seeing it.
How long does the visit take and what does it cost?
Most standard jobs in Mustang take 45 minutes to an hour. These are single-family homes with a vent that exits through a side wall and runs a normal length. Standard jobs run $89-$149.
If your vent exits through the roof rather than a side wall, the job takes longer. Long duct runs also add time. A roof exit also requires different tools compared to a side-wall exit. Roof terminations and long runs are priced at $149-$189. When you call, we will ask where your dryer is and where the vent exits. That tells us which range you are in before we arrive.
What happens when the cleaning is done?
When the duct is clear, we run the dryer for a few minutes and walk outside to the cap. A clean vent pushes enough air through to lift the cap flap and hold it. You can check it yourself. A clogged vent barely moves the flap.
We show you the lint pile we pulled out. Some homeowners have not had the vent serviced in several years. The amount that comes out can be surprising. Seeing it makes plain why keeping current on this matters.
We then tell you what we noticed in the duct. If there is foil flex that should be replaced with rigid metal, we say so. If the outside cap was damaged in a storm, we say that too. We explain it plainly and leave the decision to you.
Keeping this duct clear is one of the more direct fire-safety habits for a home. To understand what happens when lint builds up over time, see our dryer vent fire safety page.