Cleaning removes lint. Repair fixes the reason lint accumulated. Confusing the two means paying for cleaning repeatedly on a duct that will always block.
What Cleaning Does Not Fix
Crushed or kinked duct sections. Squashed behind a dryer or where the duct passes through framing. Cleaning changes nothing.
Disconnected runs. A duct that has come apart inside a wall or ceiling vents hot, moist, lint-laden air into the building structure. It deposits fuel in concealed spaces and moisture in insulation while the resident reports no problem at all — their dryer appears to work.
Foil or vinyl flex duct in concealed spaces. A code violation in most jurisdictions, and functionally a lint trap: every corrugation catches fibre.
Screws protruding into the airstream. Every joint fastened with penetrating screws is a permanent snag.
Screened termination caps. A screen catches lint on the inside and builds a mat. It will do so again immediately.
Failed backdraft dampers. One that will not open restricts airflow; one that will not close admits pests.
Excessive developed length. A run longer than code permits cannot move sufficient air regardless of how clean it is.
What We Do
- Replace crushed and damaged duct sections with rigid smooth-wall metal
- Reconnect and properly seal separated runs
- Replace foil and vinyl flex duct in concealed spaces to code
- Replace failed dampers and non-compliant termination caps
- Replace over-length and kinked transition ducts
- Re-verify airflow after every repair
Documented, Photographed, Closed Out
Every deficiency we log is photographed and located. Every repair is photographed on completion and airflow re-verified. Your maintenance file shows the problem, the fix and the proof it worked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need repair rather than cleaning?
Airflow verification after cleaning is the diagnostic. A unit still restricted once the duct is clean has a physical problem, not a lint problem. That is why we measure airflow at every unit — it is what separates the two categories.
What are the most common repairs?
Crushed transition ducts behind appliances, foil flex duct in concealed spaces (a code violation in most jurisdictions), disconnected runs discharging into wall cavities, failed backdraft dampers, and screened termination caps that trap lint on the inside face.
Should I budget for this?
Yes, on a first-ever clean. Budget a remediation contingency of roughly 10–20% of the cleaning cost, because the first clean is when physical deficiencies get counted for the first time.