Wall & Ground-Level Dryer Vent Cleaning
Basement or main-floor laundry? Your vent exits through a side wall, usually a few feet off the ground. We clean the full run, free the flapper, clear lint from the cap, and make sure snow and shrubs aren't blocking it. $139 flat.
Quick answer
A wall or ground-level dryer vent exits through the side of the house, typically 1–4 feet above grade for basement laundry rooms. Clear Vent cleans these for a flat $139: the full duct is brushed and vacuumed from inside, the exterior hood is cleared, the flapper is freed, and any screen is removed. These vents are also checked for snow-drift and shrub clearance, which block low vents in Minnesota winters.
Common problems with wall vents
- Flapper stuck shut with lint or stuck open letting cold air in
- Shrubs, mulch or snow drifts packed against the hood
- Window screen added by a previous owner, now matted solid
- Long basement runs with 3–5 elbows across the joists
- Crushed foil transition hose behind the dryer
Our process for wall vents
We pull the dryer, disconnect the hose, attach the vacuum and run the rotary brush the full length to the cap. Outside we clear the hood, test the flapper and remove screens. We reconnect and seal the hose, run the dryer and verify exhaust velocity at the cap.
Minnesota snow fix
Low vents get buried by drifts and snowblower spray. We offer a vent extension or periscope cap that raises the outlet above typical drift height, so you're not shoveling out your dryer vent in January.
Wall & Ground-Level Vent Cleaning: your questions
How do I know if my dryer vent is clogged?
The five most common signs are clothes taking more than one cycle to dry, the dryer or laundry room feeling very hot, a burning smell while the dryer runs, lint building up around the outdoor vent cap or behind the dryer, and the outdoor vent flap not opening while the dryer runs.
Why does my dryer take two cycles to dry clothes?
A restricted vent is the number one cause. When airflow drops, moist air can't leave the drum, so clothes stay damp and the dryer runs longer. If the lint screen is clean and the dryer still takes two cycles, the vent is almost always the culprit.
Why is the top of my dryer hot to the touch?
Heat that should be exhausting outdoors is backing up because the vent is restricted. A dryer with good airflow stays warm, not hot. This is a safety warning sign, not just an annoyance.
Why does my laundry room smell like burning when the dryer runs?
Lint sitting on or near the heating element is scorching. Stop using the dryer and book a cleaning. A burning smell is one of the last warnings before a dryer fire.
Why is there lint on the outside of my house near the vent?
Lint escaping around the cap means the cap, flapper, or screen is partially blocked and exhaust is finding another way out. The inside of the duct is usually worse than what you see.
My dryer vent flap doesn't open when the dryer runs. What does that mean?
Airflow is too weak to push the flapper open, or the flapper is stuck shut with lint. Either way exhaust is being forced back into the duct. This is a reliable visual test you can do yourself in two minutes.
Why are my clothes still damp after a full cycle?
Moisture can't leave the drum because exhaust air isn't exiting the house. Clean the lint screen, then run a timed cycle and check the outdoor flap. If airflow is weak, the vent needs cleaning.
Why is there moisture or condensation in my laundry room?
Humid exhaust is leaking back into the room, often from a disconnected or crushed transition hose behind the dryer or a plugged duct. We reconnect and seal hoses as part of the service.
Is excessive lint on my lint screen a sign of a clogged vent?
Not directly, but more lint on the screen often means the dryer is running longer cycles because of a restricted vent. Watch dry times rather than screen lint.
Why did my dryer shut off mid-cycle?
Modern dryers have thermal fuses and high-limit thermostats that trip when the dryer overheats. Overheating is almost always caused by restricted airflow. Many customers call us after a repair tech replaced a thermal fuse and told them to clean the vent.
My new dryer takes forever to dry. Is the dryer defective?
Usually not. A new dryer connected to an old clogged vent will perform badly from day one. Have the vent cleaned before calling for warranty service; many manufacturers won't cover airflow-related complaints.
What does a clogged dryer vent look like?
Inside the duct, you see gray felt-like lint coating the walls and packed plugs at elbows. At the exterior cap you see lint hanging from the louvers or matted on a screen. Behind the dryer, lint piles up on the floor if the hose is leaking.
Book your dryer vent cleaning in 60 seconds
Flat $139 for wall vents, $199 for roof vents. No trip charge. Pay when it's done.