What's the $49.99 inspection fee, and what do I get for it?
The $49.99 inspection is a flat service fee that covers a full video endoscope scope of your vent, an airflow measurement, an exterior hood check, and a written inspection report with photos. It's charged whether or not cleaning is needed, so you always know where your vent actually stands before committing to additional work.
The inspection is the first thing that happens on every residential visit. We pull the dryer forward, lay shoe covers and floor protection, and run a flexible video endoscope through the full vent run from the dryer connection to the exterior termination. You see the footage on our tablet in real time.
What you get: a written report with photos showing the condition of the connector, the in-wall ducting, the exterior hood and flap, and any issues we spot (crushed sections, damaged flex, nesting wildlife, broken booster fans). If cleaning is recommended, we'll quote the $220 routine rate and any additional repair work before starting.
If the inspection shows your vent is clear: you pay $49.99, we reconnect the dryer, and we're done. No pressure to add cleaning you don't need.
Why we charge it rather than giving free inspections: an honest inspection takes 20–30 minutes and requires equipment (endoscope, airflow meter, tablet for documentation). A free inspection business model usually recovers cost by finding reasons to recommend cleaning — which is a bad alignment with the customer. The $49.99 keeps the inspection honest.
Need a pro?
If this is beyond DIY, here's what we'd recommend:
From $220