Whole-system duct and dryer vent check with before-and-after photos - you see exactly what came out of your vents
That "$99 whole-house special" is a bait ad - the real number appears once they are in your hallway, or the "clean" is a shop-vac at the register. We photograph the inside of your ducts before and after instead.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterDryer Vent Inspection in Irving, TX
A dryer vent inspection in Irving, TX typically runs $79-$149 as a standalone service, and it gives you a documented picture of exactly what is happening inside your vent line before any cleaning or repair work is discussed. Most inspections take 30-45 minutes and conclude with a written report and a photo record of every section of duct we accessed.
This is not a sales call dressed up as an inspection. At CleanRun Air Duct Cleaning Irving, an inspection means a technician runs a camera through your vent line, measures airflow at the exterior termination, checks the physical condition of every transition fitting and elbow, and hands you a written scope of findings before anyone mentions a price for follow-on work. Tomas Reyes built the inspection process this way in 2013 because that is the only format that gives a homeowner actual information instead of a pitch.
If you are already sure you want a full cleaning, our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Irving page covers the complete service. If you want to know what is in your vent before committing to anything, a standalone inspection is where to start. Call (682) 297-4068 and a live person will pick up – no voicemail queue, no callback window.
When You Need a Dryer Vent Inspection
Irving’s housing stock creates some specific inspection triggers that we see on a regular basis. The city has a large share of homes built between 1978 and 1995 in neighborhoods like Valley Ranch, Hackberry Creek, and Las Colinas, and those builds frequently used flexible foil duct – a material that was code-acceptable at the time but is now known to trap lint at every corrugation. If your home is in that era and has never had the vent system documented, the photos alone are worth the inspection fee.
- Drying cycles are taking longer than they used to. If a normal cotton load that dried in 45 minutes now takes 70 or 80, restricted airflow is the first thing to rule out. In Irving’s summer humidity, a partially blocked vent also means your laundry room holds heat longer – which accelerates wear on the dryer motor.
- You can smell something hot or musty near the dryer. A hot smell during a cycle often means the dryer is running hotter than designed because exhaust cannot escape fast enough. A musty smell in the line usually points to a breach in the duct where humid air is condensing on a cold section – common in vents that run through exterior walls in Irving’s older construction.
- The exterior vent flap barely moves when the dryer is running. Stand outside and watch the damper during a cycle. If it is barely open or not opening at all, airflow is being throttled somewhere in the line. This is one of the clearest field indicators we have, and it costs nothing to check yourself before calling us.
- Your home is more than five years old and you have no record of a vent inspection. The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual inspection of dryer exhaust systems. Most Irving homeowners we talk to have never had one – and the homes that have been cleaned by a previous company don’t always have photo documentation proving what was actually done.
- You’ve recently had the vent cleaned but have no documentation to show for it. A written report and a photo record are the only way to know a cleaning happened. If you paid a $79 coupon company and received no documentation, you have a receipt, not a record.
- You’re buying or selling a home in Irving and the inspection report is blank on the dryer vent. General home inspectors check for the presence of a vent, not its internal condition. A dedicated dryer vent inspection closes that gap before a transaction, and we can typically schedule within two business days.
Our Dryer Vent Inspection Process
Every inspection follows the same documented sequence. There are no shortcuts based on how easy the job looks from the outside, and no upsells triggered by the findings until you have the full written report in hand.
- Written price before we touch anything. Haven Standard Clause 1 means the inspection fee is on paper before the technician opens a panel or pulls the dryer. The price you see is the price you pay. If additional scope is needed based on findings, that quote comes separately – in writing – before any work proceeds.
- Physical access and duct-run mapping. The technician pulls the dryer away from the wall, disconnects the flexible transition connector, and documents the duct path from the dryer collar to the exterior termination. In Irving homes where the vent runs through a finished wall or attic, we map every turn and document the number of elbows, because each 90-degree elbow reduces effective duct length by the equivalent of five linear feet – a key factor in whether your current setup is within code.
- Camera inspection of the full duct run. We run a borescope camera from the dryer connection point to the exterior cap, photographing any lint accumulation, debris blockage, crushed sections, disconnected joints, or pest intrusion. Every photograph is timestamped and tied to a physical location in the duct. We use Nikro equipment on these inspections – the same gear used in commercial laundry facility maintenance – because image quality matters when a photo is the basis of a written finding.
- Airflow measurement at the exterior termination. Using a calibrated anemometer, we measure the actual airflow volume exiting the duct at the exterior cap. The reading is compared against the dryer manufacturer’s minimum required airflow. A dryer designed to exhaust at 200 CFM (cubic feet per minute) losing 40% of that to restriction is documented as a finding, not an opinion.
- Exterior cap and damper condition check. The termination cap is where birds nest, where plastic dampers crack in Irving’s summer heat, and where lint builds into a solid plug over time. The technician photographs the cap from the outside, tests damper movement, and checks for any gap that would allow animal entry into the duct.
- Written report and photo record delivered on-site. Before the truck leaves, you receive a written inspection report that states what was found, where it was found, the airflow reading, and what – if anything – the technician recommends. If a cleaning is warranted, the written price for that cleaning is attached to the same document. The photo record is part of the standard deliverable on every CleanRun visit – this is not a premium add-on.
BeforeAfterDryer Vent Inspection Pricing in Irving
Dryer vent inspection in Irving, TX is priced before any work begins – Haven Standard Clause 1 is not a marketing phrase, it is how every job is structured. Below are the ranges we typically quote. Your written price will fall within these ranges unless a specific condition at your home changes the scope, in which case that change is explained in writing before we proceed.
| Service | Typical Price Range | What Affects Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone dryer vent inspection | $79 - $149 | Duct length, number of elbows, attic or wall routing vs. straight run |
| Inspection + same-day cleaning (if warranted) | $179 - $299 | Lint load, duct material (foil vs. rigid metal), accessibility |
| Inspection + cleaning + cap replacement | $229 - $379 | Cap style (louvered, single-flap, bird guard), exterior height |
| Second opinion on a competitor’s written estimate | No charge | We put our written number next to theirs – always free |
The factors that most commonly push an inspection toward the higher end of the range in Irving are duct runs that travel through finished attic space above a second-floor laundry, and homes in Valley Ranch and Hackberry Creek where builders ran vents through exterior walls with multiple 90-degree turns to avoid structural framing. Both situations take more time to camera and document accurately.
If the inspection finds nothing that requires cleaning or repair, you pay the inspection fee and leave with a written record confirming your vent is clear. That is worth knowing. Call (682) 297-4068 for a written quote – estimates are free and there is no obligation to proceed.
What the Camera Actually Finds in Irving Homes
After inspecting dryer vents in Irving since 2013, a few patterns repeat often enough to be worth naming.
In Las Colinas townhomes built in the late 1990s and early 2000s, we regularly find that the dryer vent was routed through a shared wall into a common utility chase, then turned downward before exiting at a low exterior point near the foundation. That downward section acts as a lint trap – gravity pulls debris to the lowest bend, and without a camera you would never know it was there. Airflow readings at the exterior cap on these units often come in 50-60% below the dryer manufacturer’s specification.
In the older ranch-style homes along Story Road and west MacArthur Boulevard, the original duct is frequently 3-inch aluminum rather than the current code-required 4-inch. Restricted diameter plus a decade of lint buildup in a corrugated foil liner creates a condition where the camera image looks more like a constricted artery than an open duct. We document the diameter, photograph the obstruction, and put both in the written report.
We have also found intact bird nests in the duct runs of homes in the Heritage District, typically starlings or sparrows that found a failed plastic damper cap. The nesting material is tightly compacted and does not move with airflow or a shop vacuum – it requires mechanical extraction with Nikro-grade equipment. Knowing the nest is there before the cleaning starts changes the scope and the written price, which is exactly why inspection comes first.
Irving Building Codes and Dryer Vent Requirements
Irving follows the International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted by Texas, which specifies that dryer exhaust ducts must be constructed of rigid or semi-rigid metal, maintain a minimum 4-inch diameter, and terminate at the exterior of the building with a backdraft damper. The maximum duct length is 35 feet, reduced by 5 feet for each 90-degree elbow.
The code does not mandate a periodic inspection interval, but an inspection is the only way to confirm your installation still meets these specs. Flexible foil duct is not IRC-compliant as a permanent installation – it is permitted only as a short transition connector (typically 8 inches or less) between the dryer collar and the rigid duct. We find foil duct used as the primary duct in a meaningful portion of Irving homes we inspect, particularly in homes that have not been updated since the original build.
When an inspection reveals a code-non-compliant installation, the written report states the specific IRC section, the observed condition, and a written price for correction. You are not required to proceed with CleanRun for the repair – we document what we found either way.
Key Takeaways
- Dryer vent inspection in Irving runs $79-$149 for a standalone visit, with a written price delivered before any work begins.
- Every inspection includes camera footage, airflow measurement, a written findings report, and a photo record – delivered on-site at no extra charge.
- Irving’s older housing stock in Valley Ranch, Las Colinas, and the Heritage District produces predictable failure patterns that only a camera inspection can confirm.
- If cleaning is needed, the written price for that work is attached to the same document before you decide anything.
- The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers every job – if something is not right, CleanRun makes it right, and that commitment is in writing on every invoice.
- A free second opinion on any written estimate from a competitor is available at no cost.
FAQs – Dryer Vent Inspection
How much does a dryer vent inspection cost in Irving, TX?
A standalone dryer vent inspection in Irving typically costs $79-$149, depending on duct length, the number of elbows, and whether the vent is routed through a finished attic or wall. For a full breakdown of what you might pay after the inspection, see our guide on How Much Does Dryer Vent Cleaning Cost? (2026 Price Guide) - Irving, TX. The written price is set before the inspection begins – no adjustments after the fact. Call (682) 297-4068 and we will give you a written quote at no charge.
How long does a dryer vent inspection take?
Most dryer vent inspections at a single-family Irving home take 30-45 minutes from the time the technician pulls the dryer away from the wall to the moment you receive the written report. Townhome units with complex routing through shared utility chases can take closer to 60 minutes. We tell you the estimated time before we start so you can plan your schedule.
What does a dryer vent inspection include?
A CleanRun dryer vent inspection includes: a camera run through the full duct from the dryer collar to the exterior cap, airflow measurement at the termination point, a physical check of the exterior cap and damper, a written findings report, and a timestamped photo record of every section of duct. All of that is part of the standard inspection fee – not itemized as add-ons. If any Dryer Vent Cleaning services or other work is warranted, a separate written price is attached to the report before you decide.
Is it safe to skip a dryer vent inspection if my dryer seems to be working fine?
A dryer can run through multiple full cycles while a vent is significantly blocked – the restriction slows drying and raises operating temperature, but it does not always produce an obvious symptom until the restriction becomes severe. The U.S. Fire Administration attributes roughly 2,900 residential dryer fires annually to failure to clean dryer vents, and many of those occur in systems that were considered “working.” An inspection gives you a documented baseline – not a reassurance, but an actual measurement. If the airflow reading is within spec and the camera shows a clear duct, the report says so, and you have a record to compare against the next inspection.
Schedule Your Irving Dryer Vent Inspection
If you want to know what is in your dryer vent line before deciding whether Vent Cleaning or repair is needed, an inspection is the right starting point. Tomas Reyes and the CleanRun team have been doing this in Irving since 2013 – every visit with a written price upfront, a camera through every section of duct, and a photo record in your hands before the truck leaves. The 365-Day Done Right Promise backs the work in writing.
Call (682) 297-4068 – a live person answers every call, any time of day. You will have a written quote before we schedule anything, and the second opinion on any competitor’s estimate is free. For the full scope of dryer vent services, including mechanical cleaning and duct replacement, see our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Irving page. And if you want an overview of everything CleanRun offers for Irving homeowners, the home page has the full picture.
Written by Tomas Reyes, Owner at CleanRun Air Duct Cleaning Irving, serving Irving.