Inspection and airflow test
Dryer vent inspection and airflow test in Tampa
We check the vent from the back of the dryer to the cover outside and test the airflow with the dryer running. It is useful before you buy a home, when a new dryer goes in or when something smells hot.
Call (813) 560-8177Book an inspection
- Free estimates, no obligation
- Homes and businesses
- End to end
- the whole vent line checked
- Airflow
- tested with the dryer running
- 3 answers
- all clear, clean it or repair it
- Free
- estimate, no obligation
In short
What a dryer vent inspection tells you
An inspection is the first step of every cleaning, done on its own. We follow the vent from the connection behind the dryer to where it leaves the house and look at the material, the joints, the bends and the outside cover. Then we run the dryer and test the airflow. You get a plain answer. Either the vent is fine, it needs cleaning, or part of it needs repair or replacement.
It is the right call before you buy a home, when a new dryer is going in, when there is a burning smell, or when clothes still take two cycles after a cleaning. If the inspection shows a cleaning is needed, ask about doing it on the same visit. Call (813) 560-8177 for a free estimate.
When to book one
When an inspection makes more sense than a cleaning
Times when you need to know what is going on inside the vent before you book a cleaning.
Buying a home
A general home inspection rarely follows the dryer vent. Know what you are buying before you close.
A new dryer going in
A new machine on an old, restricted vent will not dry any better. Check the vent first.
A burning smell
Stop using the dryer. The inspection finds whether the cause is the vent, the connection or the machine.
Still slow after a cleaning
If a cleaning did not help, something else is restricting the air, such as a crushed section, a loose joint or a stuck flap.
A rental, once a year
Landlords get a yearly check on each unit, and a cleaning only when one is needed.
After roof work or storm damage
Roof work and storms can disturb the vent cap. If either has happened, the outside end deserves a look.
What we check
What the inspection covers
Every part of the vent, in order, from the dryer to the outside. Much of a vent is hidden in walls or the attic, so the airflow test confirms what we cannot see.
- The connection behind the dryerCrushed or kinked hoses, and foil or plastic where metal belongs.
- The material and the jointsWhat the vent is made of, how it is joined, and any section that has come apart.
- The length and the bendsHow far the vent runs and how many turns it takes. Every bend collects lint.
And the parts you cannot see
- Hidden sectionsWe check by eye what we can reach. The rest shows up in the airflow test.
- The outside cover and flapWhether the flap opens with the dryer on, and whether a screen is catching lint.
- The airflowTested at the outlet with the dryer running. A vent that looks clear but moves little air has a problem inside.
The result
Three possible outcomes
The vent is fine
The airflow is good and the vent is sound. There is nothing to sell you, only a date for the next check.
It needs cleaning
Lint or debris is restricting the air. A cleaning clears the whole line, possibly on the same visit.
Something needs repair
It might be a crushed section, a loose joint, the wrong material or a broken cover. We tell you which, and the repair or replacement is priced separately.
Questions
Questions about dryer vent inspections
How long does an inspection take?
Less than a cleaning. If a cleaning follows on the same visit, most take 30 to 60 minutes more.
Is the inspection free?
The estimate is free. Ask on the phone what the inspection costs for your vent, and how it is priced if a cleaning follows.
What is an airflow test?
We run the dryer and check the air coming out at the outside end. A vent can look clean at both ends and still be restricted in the middle. The test is what shows it.
Is a screen on the outside cover a problem?
Yes. A screen catches lint and clogs, which is why the building code does not allow screens at a dryer exhaust outlet (IRC and Florida Building Code, section M1502.3). The fix is a proper cover with a flap that opens when the dryer runs.
Do you inspect dryer vents at businesses?
Yes. A business that has never had its vents checked usually starts with an inspection. See commercial dryer vent cleaning.
Know what is behind the dryer.
Ask what an inspection costs for your vent. The estimate is free, with no obligation.