Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning in Rochester, MN
A clogged dryer vent is one of the leading causes of house fires in the United States. MedCity Duct Cleaning removes the dangerous lint buildup that puts your home and family at risk.
Same-day service available for urgent situations. Call (507) 289-4039.
Dryer Vent Fires Are More Common Than Most People Realize
2,900
Dryer fires per year (FEMA)
1 in 6
House fires from dryer vents
$35M
Property damage annually
#1
Cause: failure to clean (NFPA)
Every year, clogged dryer vents cause thousands of house fires across the United States. These are not rare freak accidents. According to FEMA, approximately 2,900 clothes dryer fires occur in U.S. residential buildings each year. The National Fire Protection Association reports that failure to clean dryer vents is the leading cause of these fires. That means the single most effective thing you can do to prevent a dryer fire is also the simplest: keep your vent clean.
An estimated 1 in 6 house fires involving home heating equipment or appliances are linked to dryer vent problems. These fires cause roughly $35 million in property damage annually, and more importantly, they injure hundreds of people and claim lives every year. Lint is extremely flammable. When it builds up inside your dryer vent over months or years, the restricted airflow forces your dryer to run hotter and longer. At a certain point, all it takes is one spark.
Rochester homeowners run their dryers heavily through Minnesota's long, cold winters. Wet boots, heavy coats, extra loads of blankets and towels — all of it means more lint, more often, with less time between loads for heat to dissipate. Homes in Southeast Minnesota are often at higher risk simply because of how much the dryer gets used during the heating season.
The good news is that dryer vent cleaning is fast, affordable, and highly effective at eliminating this risk. A professional cleaning removes the lint buildup from your entire vent path, restores proper airflow, and gives you confidence that your dryer is operating safely. If it has been more than a year since your last cleaning — or if you have never had it done — this is worth your attention today.
Concerned about your dryer vent?
Same-day service available for safety concerns. Call now or request a quote.
6 Warning Signs Your Dryer Vent Needs Cleaning
Clothes are taking longer than one cycle to dry
If loads that used to dry in 45 minutes now take an hour and a half, your vent is likely restricted. Lint buildup traps moisture-laden air inside the dryer, preventing clothes from drying efficiently. This is the most common early sign, and most people dismiss it as a dryer problem when the vent is actually the culprit.
The dryer is hot to the touch during operation
Your dryer produces heat, but the cabinet itself should not feel unusually hot on the outside. When the vent is blocked, heat that should be exhausting to the exterior gets trapped inside the unit. An overheating dryer is wearing out components faster and creating conditions where lint ignition becomes a real possibility.
You notice a burning smell when the dryer is running
This is the warning sign you should never ignore. A burning odor means lint is being exposed to excessive heat somewhere in the system. If you smell burning, stop the dryer immediately, do not restart it, and call for a professional cleaning. This is exactly the situation where same-day service matters.
Lint is accumulating around the outside vent or behind the dryer
Check the exterior vent where your dryer exhausts outside your home. If you see lint collecting on or around the vent flap, airflow is too weak to push it clear. Also check behind your dryer where the vent connects. Visible lint in either location means there is far more buildup inside the vent line itself.
It has been more than a year since your last cleaning
Even if your dryer seems to be running fine, the National Fire Protection Association recommends having dryer vents cleaned at least once a year. Lint accumulates gradually, and the vent can reach a dangerous level of restriction before you notice performance issues. Annual cleaning is the single most reliable way to prevent dryer vent fires.
The dryer keeps shutting off before the cycle finishes
Modern dryers have a built-in thermal safety switch that shuts the unit down when it overheats. If your dryer stops mid-cycle and restarts after cooling down, it is almost certainly overheating due to restricted airflow. This safety mechanism is doing its job, but it is also telling you that conditions inside your vent are approaching the point where a fire could start.
How We Clean Your Dryer Vent
A thorough, four-step process that eliminates lint buildup and restores safe airflow.
Inspect the Full Vent Path
Before we touch anything, we trace your entire dryer vent run from the back of the dryer to where it exits your home. We check the length of the run, the number of turns, the condition of the vent material, and the exterior vent cap. This tells us exactly what we are working with and whether there are any issues beyond lint buildup, such as damaged sections or disconnected joints.
Disconnect & Access the Vent
We carefully pull your dryer away from the wall and disconnect it from the vent. This gives us full access to the vent opening and lets us see the condition of the connection point, which is one of the most common places for lint to accumulate. We also clean the area behind the dryer, where lint often collects on the floor and around the transition hose.
Rotobrush Dryer Vent Cleaning
This is the core of the service. Our Rotobrush dryer vent system uses a rotating brush that physically scrubs the interior walls of your vent line, breaking loose compacted lint that a shop vac or leaf blower cannot reach. The high-performance vacuum captures everything the brush dislodges, pulling it out of the vent rather than pushing it deeper. We clean the full length from the dryer connection to the exterior opening.
Verify Airflow & Check Vent Cap
After cleaning, we verify that air is flowing freely through the entire vent by running the dryer and checking output at the exterior vent. We also inspect the vent cap or flap to make sure it opens and closes properly. A stuck or damaged vent cap can let pests in, trap moisture, or restrict airflow even after a thorough cleaning. If we find an issue, we will let you know.
What Is Included
- Full inspection of the vent path from dryer to exterior wall or roof
- Complete cleaning of the entire vent run using our Rotobrush dryer vent vacuum and brush attachment
- Lint trap housing and cavity cleaning (the area around and behind the lint screen)
- Cleaning of the transition hose and connection point between dryer and wall
- Exterior vent cap inspection and cleaning
- Airflow verification after cleaning to confirm unrestricted exhaust
- Dryer reconnection and repositioning
- Full cleanup of the work area -- we leave your laundry room the way we found it
See the Difference
A clogged dryer vent before cleaning vs. a clear, safe vent afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about dryer vent cleaning in Rochester, MN.
Dryer vents should be cleaned at least once a year. The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual cleaning as the primary way to prevent dryer fires, regardless of how new your dryer is or how well it seems to be running. Households with high laundry volume, pets that shed, or vent runs longer than 15 feet with multiple turns may benefit from cleaning every 6 to 9 months.
The most common sign is that your clothes are taking noticeably longer to dry than they used to. Other warning signs include the dryer feeling hot to the touch on the outside, a burning smell during operation, visible lint around the exterior vent opening, or the dryer shutting off mid-cycle due to overheating. You can also check by running the dryer and feeling for airflow at the exterior vent -- if it is weak or barely noticeable, your vent is likely restricted.
You can do basic maintenance like cleaning the lint trap after every load and vacuuming behind your dryer. However, a thorough cleaning of the full vent run typically requires professional equipment. Most dryer vents run 10 to 25 feet through walls, floors, or ceilings with multiple bends. Consumer vent cleaning kits can help with short, straight runs but often cannot reach the full length or break loose compacted lint. They can also disconnect vent joints inside walls, creating a hidden gap that is more dangerous than the original clog.
Most dryer vent cleanings take between 30 and 60 minutes. The exact time depends on the length of your vent run, how many turns it makes, and how much lint has accumulated. Longer vent runs or vents that have never been cleaned may take a bit more time. Either way, this is a fast service -- you will not need to block out your whole day.
The cost varies based on the length and complexity of your vent run. We provide custom quotes rather than a flat rate that may not apply to your situation. Dryer vent cleaning is one of the most affordable home maintenance services you can invest in, especially relative to the fire risk it eliminates. We also offer a price match promise on all residential work.
Yes. Failure to clean dryer vents is the leading cause of clothes dryer fires in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association. FEMA reports approximately 2,900 residential dryer fires per year, causing an estimated $35 million in property damage annually. Lint is one of the most flammable materials found in a typical home, and annual professional cleaning removes this fuel source and restores the airflow your dryer needs to operate safely.
Lint will continue to accumulate, progressively restricting airflow. The immediate effects are longer drying times, higher energy bills, and increased wear on your dryer. Many dryer repairs homeowners pay for are actually caused by a clogged vent. The more serious risk is fire -- as the vent becomes more restricted, your dryer runs hotter and lint is exposed to increasingly dangerous temperatures. A blocked vent can also trap carbon monoxide inside your home if you have a gas dryer.
Yes. We offer same-day service for dryer vent cleaning in Rochester and surrounding Southeast Minnesota communities, subject to availability. We understand that dryer vent issues can be urgent, especially if you are noticing a burning smell or your dryer is overheating. Call us directly at (507) 289-4039 and let us know your situation. We prioritize safety-related calls and will do our best to get to you the same day.
Other Services
Do Not Wait Until You Smell Smoke
If your dryer is running hot, taking too long, or you cannot remember the last time your vent was cleaned, call us today. Same-day service available. Free inspections and price match on all residential work.