Dryer Vent Cleaning vs. Replacement: When Can It Be Saved?

Most of the time, when I show up to a house in Rice Military or The Heights, a good cleaning is all the dryer vent needs. We scrub out the lint, check the airflow, and you’re good to go.

But sometimes, I climb into an attic and see something that cleaning can't fix.

I’ve seen vents held together with duct tape, vents that are completely crushed, and vents made of materials that are illegal under current building codes.

So, how do you know if you need a cleaning or a total replacement?

When Cleaning is Enough

If your ductwork is rigid metal (the silver pipe) and it’s intact, cleaning is usually the answer.

• Symptoms: Clothes taking long to dry, slight burning smell.
• The Fix: Professional rotary brush cleaning.
• Cost: Affordable maintenance.

When Replacement is Mandatory

There are situations where I will frankly refuse to clean a vent because it would be unsafe to do so. In these cases, the vent needs to be repaired or replaced.

1. The White Plastic or Foil Hose

If you have that thin white plastic hose or the flimsy foil stuff running through your walls or attic, it needs to go.

These are fire hazards. They trap lint in their ridges, and if a fire starts, they melt instantly and let the fire spread to your home's framing. Code requires rigid metal venting for concealed runs. If I see plastic in an attic, I recommend ripping it out and installing proper metal ducting.

2. Disconnected or Crushed Ducts

In Houston attics, people (or cable guys) crawl over ducts. I often find the dryer vent pipe crushed flat like a soda can. No amount of cleaning will open that up. It has to be cut out and replaced.

Sometimes, the segments have simply fallen apart. You’re pumping hot, moist lint directly into your attic insulation. That’s a mold factory waiting to happen.

3. Screened Terminations

Some builders put a screen over the exhaust cap on the roof or wall to keep birds out. Great for birds, terrible for dryers. The lint hits that screen and plugs it solid in weeks.

We don't necessarily replace the whole vent here, but we must replace that termination cap with a proper damper that opens when the dryer blows and closes when it stops—no screens allowed.

Do It Right, Do It Once

If your dryer vent system is damaged, cleaning it is like putting a band-aid on a broken leg.

At Houston Air Rescue, we don't just clean; we repair. We can install proper rigid metal ducting, fix disconnects in the attic, and install bird-proof (but lint-safe) vent covers.

Unsure about the state of your vents?

Call us at 281-845-4011 for an inspection and honest assessment.