What we check during an inspection
An inspection answers one question: is your vent safe and working? We trace the vent line from the dryer to the outside, measure airflow at both ends, check the outside cap for blockages or bird nests, and look at the duct material and connections. We photograph anything we find — crushed sections, disconnected joints, lint packed at the cap, bird guards that are clogged — so you can see exactly what we see.
When an inspection makes sense
Get an inspection if you just moved into a home and have no idea when the vent was last cleaned. Get one if your dryer suddenly takes longer, runs hot, or shuts off mid-cycle. Get one before you buy a dryer for a laundry room you have never used. And get one if a home inspector flagged the vent during a sale — we give you a clear report you can hand to the buyer or seller.
The hidden problems we find
The most common surprise is the wrong duct material: flexible plastic or foil accordion hose hidden inside walls. It traps lint, crushes easily, and is a known fire hazard — rigid metal duct is the safe standard. We also find vents that were never connected at all, blowing hot damp air into the attic or wall cavity for years. And we find bird nests in roof caps, which can block a vent almost completely in a single nesting season.
What you get
A written report with photos, an airflow reading, and a straight recommendation: clean it, repair it, or it is fine. If it is fine, we say so — an inspection is not a sales pitch. If work is needed, you get a clear written estimate. Call (301) 679-9193 or send the form for a free estimate — no pressure, no obligation.
Our Process: How It Works
Step 1 — Walkthrough. We start at the dryer: the transition hose, the wall connection, and the laundry room for dampness or heat signs.
Step 2 — Full route trace. We follow the vent through walls, attic, or crawl space to the outside, noting length, bends, material, and supports.
Step 3 — Cap and airflow check. We inspect the outside cap for blockages, nests, and damage, then measure airflow at both ends of the line.
Step 4 — Written report with photos. You get a clear report: what we found, photos of every issue, and a straight recommendation — clean it, repair it, reroute it, or it is fine.
What the report includes
Every inspection ends with a written report you can keep. It lists the vent's route, length, and material; airflow readings before any work; photos of blockages, damage, nests, or unsafe materials; and our recommendation in plain language. Buying a home? Hand the report to your agent or the seller. Managing rentals? File it as your maintenance record. Dealing with an insurance question? It documents the vent's condition with dates. The report is yours whether or not you hire us for the follow-up work — an inspection is information, not a sales pitch.
Inspection or cleaning: which do you need first?
If you know the vent has not been cleaned in a year or more, skip straight to the cleaning — the inspection is built into every cleaning visit anyway. Book a standalone inspection when you need answers before deciding: you just bought the home, the home inspector flagged something vague, the dryer is new but performs badly, or you are a landlord documenting a property's condition. An inspection also makes sense before a remodel that moves the laundry room — we can tell you whether the planned vent route will actually work. When in doubt, call and describe the situation; we will tell you honestly which visit fits.
The five hazards we look for
Every inspection hunts the same five hazards. One: plastic or foil accordion duct, which is flammable and lint-trapping. Two: disconnected sections blowing hot air into walls or attics. Three: crushed or kinked sections choking airflow. Four: bird or pest nests blocking the exit. Five: excessive length or bends that no cleaning can permanently fix. Finding any of these early is the whole point — each one is cheaper to address now than after it causes damage.
New-home inspections: trust but verify
Just bought a newly built Orlando home? Get the vent inspected. Construction debris — drywall dust, sawdust, screws, even lunch wrappers — ends up inside vent lines more often than builders admit. We have found brand-new vents half-blocked on day one. An inspection on a new home verifies the vent was installed correctly, uses the right materials, actually terminates outside, and is clear of debris. It is a small visit that protects a large investment, and the report gives you leverage with the builder if we find problems while the warranty is fresh.
What general home inspectors miss
Standard home inspections are broad by design — the inspector looks at a little of everything in a few hours. Dryer vents get a glance: "vent present, terminates outside." They do not measure airflow, trace the full route through the attic, check duct material inside walls, or look for nests in roof caps. That is not a criticism; it is just not their scope. If your home inspector flagged the vent — or said nothing about it at all — a dedicated vent inspection fills the gap with the depth this one system deserves.
Landlords: document every property
If you own rental properties, an inspection report per property is cheap liability protection. It documents the vent's condition with photos and dates, establishes a maintenance baseline, and shows due diligence if anything ever goes wrong. We inspect multi-property portfolios efficiently — same thorough report for each address, scheduled to minimize disruption to tenants. Pair it with a cleaning schedule and your vent maintenance is handled.