Should I have my dryer vent cleaned at the same time as my Toronto home ductwork?

Yes, having your dryer vent cleaned at the same time as your ductwork is a smart move — most duct cleaning companies in the GTA offer dryer vent cleaning as an add-on for $100 to $200, which is less than booking a separate appointment. Since the crew is already in your home with professional equipment, combining the two services saves you time and often gets you a bundled discount.

Dryer vent cleaning is actually more urgent than HVAC duct cleaning from a safety perspective. Lint buildup in dryer vents is the leading cause of residential dryer fires in Canada, and the risk increases with every load of laundry. The lint trap in your dryer catches only about 75 percent of the lint produced during each cycle — the rest passes through and accumulates inside the vent duct running from your dryer to the exterior wall or roof cap. Over months and years, this lint compresses into a thick, highly flammable layer that restricts airflow and can ignite from the dryer's exhaust heat. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority and fire prevention authorities recommend cleaning your dryer vent at least once per year, and more often if you do heavy laundry loads or have a long vent run.

In many GTA homes — particularly townhouses, semi-detached homes, and condos — the dryer vent runs a considerable distance from the laundry area to the exterior, sometimes 15 to 25 feet with multiple elbows. These longer runs accumulate lint faster and are more difficult to clean with a DIY brush kit. Older Toronto homes often have dryer vents made from flexible vinyl or foil duct, which sags, traps lint in the ridges, and is a fire hazard. A professional cleaning crew can identify these problems and recommend upgrading to rigid or semi-rigid aluminum duct, which is smoother, collects less lint, and meets current Ontario Building Code requirements.

The cleaning process is straightforward. The technician disconnects the dryer from the vent, inserts a rotating brush or compressed air tool through the full length of the vent duct, and uses a vacuum to extract all the accumulated lint. They also clean the dryer's lint trap housing and exhaust port, which are areas that often get overlooked. The exterior vent cap is inspected and cleaned — caps with built-in screens or mesh are common in GTA homes but actually trap lint and should be replaced with louvred caps that open freely when the dryer runs.

Signs that your dryer vent needs immediate cleaning include clothes taking longer than one cycle to dry, the dryer feeling excessively hot to the touch, a burning smell during operation, visible lint around the dryer connection or exterior cap, and the exterior vent flap not opening when the dryer runs. If you notice any of these, do not wait for your next duct cleaning appointment — have the dryer vent cleaned right away. A clogged dryer vent is a fire risk that should be addressed promptly.