How Long Does Dryer Vent Cleaning Take?

Typical time by home type

• Single-story, side-wall exit: 45–60 minutes
• Single-story, roof exit: 60–75 minutes
• Two-story, side-wall exit: 60–75 minutes
• Two-story, roof exit: 75–90 minutes
• Townhome with shared vent stack: 60–90 minutes
• Deep cleaning (3+ years of buildup): add 15–30 minutes
• Bird nest removal: add 15–30 minutes

What's actually happening during that time

1. Walk-through and inspection (5–10 min) — find the vent path and exterior exit, confirm condition.
2. Pull and disconnect dryer (5 min) — protecting floors and gas line if applicable.
3. Rotary brush + HEPA vacuum on full run (20–35 min) — both directions where possible.
4. Exterior hood and flap clean (5–10 min) — clear bird nests, leaves, debris.
5. Reconnect and reposition dryer (5 min).
6. Run cycle + airflow verification (5–10 min) — measure exterior airflow.
7. Photos and walkthrough (5 min) — you see what came out and what the airflow looks like.

What makes the job take longer

• Roof access (especially in Stone Oak, Alamo Ranch, and 2-story builds in Schertz)
• Multiple elbows and long attic runs (common in newer Cibolo/New Braunfels construction)
• Bird nests, especially in spring
• Old foil duct that collapses and needs replacement instead of cleaning
• Disconnected duct discovered mid-clean

What can make it faster

• Clear access to the dryer (move laundry baskets and storage)
• Garage parking near the outside exit
• Recent service history (less buildup)

Same-day and scheduling

We do same-day work across Bexar County when there's an opening. Most homeowners schedule a free inspection first, then the cleaning happens on the same visit if it's needed.