Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Fast, Reliable Dryer Vent Cleaning Across Van Nuys
Dryer vent cleaning in Van Nuys runs $149 to $289 for a standard single-story ranch home, and most jobs are finished in under two hours. On homes built before 1970 along Van Nuys Blvd and the Victory Blvd corridor, we commonly add a camera inspection because the real blockage is rarely at the dryer itself. It’s usually in the wall cavity where the old flex duct collapsed or pulled apart. Call (866) 520-4943 to schedule a sweep and camera check of your vent run.
We work in Van Nuys every week, so we already know what your house is doing before we knock on the door. Post-war ranch construction, Santa Ana debris, and ductwork that hasn’t been touched since the Nixon administration. That’s the job, and we’re set up for it.
Why Firebrick Chimney Sweep Is Van Nuys’s Preferred Dryer Vent Cleaning Company
We built our reputation in the San Fernando Valley on chimney systems, and dryer vents are part of the same ventilation discipline. Nelson Quijada, our owner, runs every job with the same standard: if we can’t show you the condition with camera footage, we haven’t finished the inspection. Van Nuys homeowners call us because what we find is documented, not described.
Our techs know the housing stock. When we arrive at a 1950s ranch in Van Nuys, we already expect original clay flue liners, hollow wall cavities, and vent terminations that may have been loosened by the 1994 Northridge earthquake. That’s not guesswork; it’s pattern recognition from working this neighborhood repeatedly.
We don’t recommend anything without camera evidence you can see on the spot. If the vent is clear, we say so. If it’s blocked, we show you the footage and the exact location. That’s the core difference, and it’s why our Dryer Vent Cleaning team gets called back when Van Nuys homeowners actually need a repair, not just a sweep.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Dryer Vent Cleaning Services in Van Nuys
Dryer Vent Camera Inspection and Documentation
Most Van Nuys homes have vent runs hidden behind walls or above ceilings, which means you can’t see the problem without a camera. We run a high-resolution scope the full length of the duct, from the dryer collar to the exterior termination, and photograph every restriction. If we recommend a duct replacement, it’s because we have pictures showing you exactly why. No camera evidence, no recommendation.
Smooth-Wall Duct Replacement (DuraFlex)
Foil and vinyl flex duct is standard in pre-1970 Van Nuys tract homes, and it fails. It crushes, sags, separates at the seams, and traps lint in the ridges. When we find it, we replace it with smooth-wall DuraFlex rigid aluminum that moves air efficiently and won’t collapse under its own weight. This is the same professional-grade material we use on chimney liners, and it’s why we can do the swap without referring you to another contractor.
Exterior Hood and Backdraft Damper Re-Termination
The termination point matters as much as the duct itself. After a Santa Ana event, exterior hoods across Van Nuys fill with palm fronds, eucalyptus leaves, and Valley dust. A packed screen makes the dryer overheat and take two cycles to dry a load. We replace damaged hoods, install proper backdraft dampers, and make sure the termination is sealed so hot air and lint exit the house, not your wall cavity.
Fireplace Chase and Flue Termination Correction
On some Van Nuys ranch homes, the dryer duct terminates into the old fireplace chase or flue chase behind the firebox. Lint and moisture dump into a clay flue that was never designed for it. This is a fire load in a hidden cavity. We reroute the vent to a proper exterior termination and camera-document the corrected run. If the old chimney is also in bad shape, we can repair that too, because chimney work is what we do every day.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Van Nuys
We stock and install professional-grade components from HeatShield, Gelco, and DuraFlex, the same brands used by certified chimney and ventilation contractors. No consumer-grade flex from the hardware store, no shortcuts. For Van Nuys homeowners, that means the parts we install on a Monday have the same manufacturing standards we’d use on a chimney liner or flue repair. We service all dryer makes and models, and we keep common termination hoods and damper assemblies on the truck so a standard swap doesn’t mean a second appointment.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterCommon Dryer Vent Cleaning Problems We See in Van Nuys Homes
- Collapsed foil duct behind the dryer. The classic Van Nuys apartment and ranch home problem. The vent looks clean from the laundry side, but the foil has crushed inside the wall cavity and is packed with lint. This is a hidden fire load, and it can’t be seen without a camera.
- Lint escaping into the wall cavity from a loosened termination. Northridge shaking separated many exterior vent terminations on 1940s – 1960s tract homes. The lint doesn’t clog the duct; it spills into the stud bay, right beside the firebox on homes where the dryer vent shares the fireplace wall plane.
- Santa Ana debris packing the exterior hood. Palm fronds, eucalyptus bark, and Valley dust fill the termination screens after a wind event. The dryer overheats, the load takes twice as long, and the homeowner blames the appliance when the real problem is outside the house.
- Dryer ducted into the old flue chase. Some Van Nuys homeowners discover their dryer has been venting into the chimney chase for decades. Heat, lint, and moisture accumulate in a flue that was never built for it. We find this with the camera, not by guessing.
Pricing for Dryer Vent Cleaning in Van Nuys, CA
We Also Serve Cities Near Van Nuys
Our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Van Nuys coverage extends through the neighboring communities we work in every week: Valley Glen, Sherman Oaks, Encino, and North Hills. Same camera standard, same flat-price quoting, same professional-grade materials. If you’re just outside Van Nuys, the closest crew still gets to you quickly, and you’ll know the real condition of your vent run before we leave the driveway.
Serving Van Nuys, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Van Nuys 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 – Dryer Vent Cleaning in Van Nuys
My Van Nuys ranch house has the dryer vented into the old chimney chase – is that safe?
No. A dryer vent terminating into a chimney chase dumps lint, heat, and moisture into a cavity that was never designed for it, and on pre-1970 Van Nuys tract homes that cavity often sits right beside the original brick firebox. Lint is fuel, and the chase is oxygenated. We bring a camera into that chase, show you exactly what’s accumulated, and reroute the vent to a proper exterior termination. Get a quote by calling (866) 520-4943.
How do I know my dryer vent really needs cleaning and it’s not an upsell?
You should never take anyone’s word for it. With our camera inspection, you see the restriction yourself, on the screen, before we touch anything. If the duct is clear, we’ll tell you it’s clear and charge you only for the cleaning. If the duct needs replacement, you’ll see the collapsed foil or separated seam in the footage. That’s the standard we hold in Van Nuys, and it eliminates guesswork. Call (866) 520-4943 to schedule.
Why does my dryer take two cycles in the summer heat?
In Van Nuys during July and August, the outdoor air is already hot and dry, so the dryer works less efficiently from the start. But if your vent is clear, one cycle should still handle a normal load. When we run the camera on a two-cycle home, the cause is almost always restricted airflow: a packed exterior hood, collapsed flex duct, or a run that’s too long for the dryer’s blower. We fix all three. Call (866) 520-4943 for an inspection.
Is there a code limit on how long a dryer vent can be in these older homes?
Yes. Current code in California, and specifically in the city of Los Angeles jurisdiction covering Van Nuys, caps dryer vent runs at 25 feet, with a 5-foot deduction for every 90-degree bend. Most 1940s – 1960s ranch homes have shorter runs, but when a laundry was relocated in a remodel, the run often exceeds the limit and the dryer can’t push lint out. We measure the actual run and camera-document it. If it’s over length, we explain the correction. Call (866) 520-4943 for a free estimate.
I never use my fireplace – do I still need the dryer vent inspected?
Yes, because the dryer vent is a separate fire load from anything in the fireplace, and on Van Nuys ranch homes the two systems often share the same wall plane. Lint accumulates whether the fireplace is used or not, and a collapsed duct doesn’t care how often you burn wood. We inspect the full dryer vent run independently and document it with photos. Even a fireplace that never fires still has a chimney chase where lint and heat can accumulate. Call (866) 520-4943.
Written by Nelson Quijada, Owner at Firebrick Chimney Sweep, serving Van Nuys and the surrounding San Fernando Valley.