Guide · updated 2026-10-30
Dryer vent cleaning: cost and fire risk.
What it costs, how often, the warning signs, and what the fire data shows.
What it costs
National guides put dryer vent cleaning at $80–185, about $130 on average (HomeGuide). In the Toronto area, houses run about $175–250 and condo or roof exits $250–389 (GTA Dryer Vent Guide).
| UpkeepGo | Ottawa (CAD, before HST) | Greater Boston (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Main-floor wall exit, run up to 15 ft | $189 | $179 |
| Second-floor or roof exit, or a run over 15 ft | $269 | $259 |
The fire risk
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that failure to clean was the leading factor in home clothes dryer fires from 2018 to 2020 (31%). Its earlier study estimated 2,900 residential clothes dryer fires a year in the US, more frequent in fall and winter and peaking in January. NFPA’s study of fires involving washers and dryers found 92% involved dryers.
Signs it’s time
- Clothes need more than one cycle to dry.
- The dryer or laundry room gets unusually hot.
- The outside flap doesn’t open when the dryer runs.
- Lint builds up around the outside hood.
How often
Once a year for most homes, as part of regular maintenance. The CPSC also advises replacing plastic or foil accordion duct with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct.
Sources
- HomeGuide: dryer vent cleaning cost
- GTA Dryer Vent Guide: dryer vent cleaning cost in Toronto
- U.S. Fire Administration: appliance and electrical fire prevention
- U.S. Fire Administration: Clothes dryer fires in residential buildings (Topical Fire Report, Aug 2012)
- NFPA: Home fires involving clothes dryers and washing machines (2017)
- CPSC Publication 5022: Overheated clothes dryers can cause fires
Your price in seconds.
Two or three questions, a fixed price, a date that suits you. Pay after the job.