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.
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AfterFast, Reliable Dryer Vent Cleaning Across Medford
Dryer vent cleaning in Medford typically runs $180 – $340 for a complete system cleaning, and we schedule most jobs within a week of your call. If you’re in a triple-decker near Tufts, a two-family off Mystic Valley Parkway, or a single-family in Wellington, our crews know the vent runs you’re dealing with: long, elbow-heavy galvanized paths through finished basements that collect lint the trap never catches. Call (361) 326-5060 to book a free estimate. Our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Medford crews dispatch from our Boston office and carry the rotary tools, camera systems, and rigid pipe stock to handle Medford’s older housing stock without return trips.
Why Hollis Air Duct Cleaning Is Medford’s Preferred Dryer Vent Cleaning Company
We’ve been working in Medford’s 1890 – 1930 housing long enough to know which basements have headroom for a Nikro negative-air machine and which need a compact Rotobrush setup fed through a ceiling access panel. Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and expected to follow The Garrison Code on every job: arrive inside the quoted window, price in writing before touching anything, finish by the book, leave the site clean.
Medford homeowners call us back because the price we write down is the price they pay. No per-vent add-ons, no “long-run surcharge” invented after we see the basement. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers every dryer vent cleaning in writing: if the work fails within a year, we return and make it right at no charge, including a free second visit.
Phones are answered by a live person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No voicemail loops, no callback queues, no waiting until Monday to schedule.
Dryer Vent Cleaning Service in Medford
Dryer Vent Cleaning Service in Medford means tracing, agitating, and extracting lint from vent runs that were never designed for modern dryers. Most Medford triple-deckers and two-family homes run 15 to 25 feet of 4-inch galvanized pipe with multiple elbows behind finished basement ceilings or through knob-and-tube-framed walls. The lint trap catches maybe 30 percent of the load. The rest compacts at elbows, crushes where pipes sag, and becomes a fire hazard you can’t see until drying takes two cycles or the laundry room smells scorched.
Our process: camera inspection first, then rotary agitation to break up compacted lint, HEPA-filtered capture under negative pressure, airflow test after. We hand you before-and-after photos of your own vent run. One flat price per system, agreed before we start.
When Medford Homeowners Need This Service
Two-cycle drying, a hot laundry room, or visible lint behind the dryer are clear signals. In Medford’s climate, winter heating pulls basement moisture through damp duct insulation, and spring melt often reveals water-damaged sections that trap lint worse. We also clean between tenants in Tufts-area rentals, where August turnover brings accumulated debris and odor complaints.
What the Job Actually Costs
A standard dryer vent cleaning in Medford runs $180 – $240 for a single straight run up to 15 feet. Longer runs with multiple elbows, buried access, or crushed section replacement range $260 – $340. Bird guard or vent cap replacement adds $45 – $85. We write the price before we start. It does not move at the door.
Dryer Vent Installation in Medford
Dryer Vent Installation in Medford often means correcting what a previous owner jury-rigged: flexible foil crushed behind the dryer, PVC pipe (a code violation), or galvanized runs that terminate in the crawlspace instead of outside. We install rigid metal venting to current IRC standards, properly supported, with correct termination and backdraft damper.
Because Medford’s older homes weren’t built with dedicated laundry rooms, dryers often sit in basements or converted porches with improvised vent paths. We reroute through exterior walls where possible, or install proper vertical runs with access panels for future cleaning. Every installation gets a written price upfront and the same 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Rerouting for Older Housing
Triple-decker basement ceilings are frequently finished with plaster or drywall over knob-and-tube wiring. We locate the safest path, install access panels where code requires them, and never bury a connection you can’t reach later. Rerouting a typical Medford basement run runs $340 – $520 depending on linear feet and wall penetration count.
Vent Cap and Bird Guard Installation
Medford’s mature tree canopy attracts nesting birds, especially near the Mystic River corridor. A proper vent cap with bird guard stops blockages and meets landlord insurance requirements for rental properties. Installed with a cleaning or as standalone: $85 – $150.
Trusted Brands We Service in Medford
Our vans stock parts from Aprilaire, Abatement Technologies, and Guardsman filtration products, plus rigid venting and termination hardware in standard diameters. For Medford homeowners, that means same-day resolution of most vent cap, connector, or guard issues without a parts run. Our rotary agitation tools are Rotobrush systems paired with Nikro negative-air capture. We don’t show up with a shop vacuum and hope for the best.
Common Dryer Vent Cleaning Problems We See in Medford Homes
- Crushed flex behind finished basement ceilings. In Glenwood and Wellington two-families, the flex connector gets pushed back against the wall during basement cleanups and kinks flat. The dryer still runs, but airflow drops 60 percent and lint packs at the first elbow.
- Galvanized runs terminated in crawlspaces or wall cavities. Pre-1950 Medford homes sometimes vent dryers into unfinished basement corners or between joists. This dumps moisture into balloon-frame walls and violates current code. We reroute to proper exterior termination.
- Compacted lint at second and third elbows. Medford’s long-run vent geometry means lint doesn’t distribute evenly. It packs at direction changes, especially where pipes sag from inadequate support. Camera inspection finds it; rotary agitation removes it.
- Spring melt water damage in duct insulation. Medford’s 42-inch average snowfall and humid summers mean basement moisture cycles. Wet insulation around duct runs traps lint and supports mold growth. We flag damage we find and recommend replacement before re-insulating.
Pricing for Dryer Vent Cleaning in Medford, MA
We quote one flat price per system, not per vent, not per foot. Here’s what dryer vent cleaning costs in Medford’s market:
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Standard dryer vent cleaning (single run, up to 15 ft) | $180 – $240 |
| Extended run cleaning (15 – 25 ft, multiple elbows) | $260 – $340 |
| Crushed section replacement with rigid pipe | $85 – $150 per section |
| Vent cap or bird guard installation | $85 – $150 |
| Complete vent rerouting in basement | $340 – $520 |
What moves the number: run length, elbow count, whether the pipe is accessible or buried behind finished ceiling, and whether sections need replacement. We inspect with a camera, write the price, and get your approval before any work begins. Estimates are free. Call (361) 326-5060 to schedule.
We Also Serve Cities Near Medford
Our Dryer Vent Cleaning crews work throughout the metro area, including Malden, Somerville, Arlington, and Everett. Each community has its own housing stock and vent-run patterns; we adjust our approach rather than apply a single template.
Serving Medford, MA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Medford area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Dryer Vent Cleaning in Medford
Every 12 to 18 months for most Medford triple-deckers, or sooner if drying takes longer than one cycle per load. The long, elbow-heavy galvanized runs in these homes accumulate lint faster than short straight vents in newer construction. Heavy use, multiple tenants, or a basement that runs damp can push that to every 10 – 12 months. Call (361) 326-5060 and we’ll inspect to give you a specific interval for your setup.
The lint trap catches only a fraction of the debris; the rest is packed in the vent run behind your dryer. In Medford’s typical triple-decker layout, that means 15 to 25 feet of galvanized pipe with multiple elbows, often partially crushed or sagging. Airflow drops, moisture stays in the drum, and drying time doubles. A camera inspection finds the blockage location; rotary agitation and negative-air extraction clear it. Call (361) 326-5060 for a free estimate.
Yes. We access through strategic ceiling panels, use flexible rotary tools and camera guidance to navigate the run, and replace the access covers cleanly. In Medford’s Glenwood and Wellington neighborhoods, this is standard practice. We write the price before we cut any access, and we photograph the run condition for your records. If a section is crushed or disconnected, we can replace it through the same access.
No. Dryer vent cleaning isolates and clears the single exhaust path from your dryer to outside. Air duct cleaning addresses the supply and return ductwork of your HVAC system. The equipment overlaps, but the process differs: dryer vents need rotary agitation specific to lint compaction, and they terminate outside with a cap that must be inspected. Some companies run a truck vacuum at the dryer and call it done. That can pull lint loose without capturing it and worsen the blockage. We treat them as distinct jobs with distinct protocols.
A standard cleaning runs $180 – $240; extended runs with buried access or multiple elbows run $260 – $340. The price we write before work starts is the price you pay. No per-vent add-ons, no “long-run surcharge” invented in your basement. If we find a crushed section that needs replacement, we stop, explain, and write a revised price for that specific repair. You approve it or we proceed with cleaning only. Call (361) 326-5060 for an exact quote – estimates are free.
Written by Roy Castellanos, Owner at Hollis Air Duct Cleaning, serving Medford and the greater Boston area since 2004.