Blocked Dryer Vent? We Clear the Route and Check the Risk in Edgbaston
We inspect the full vent run from drum to outside flap, clear what we safely can and advise on any part that needs replacing.
Booking fee plus hourly labour — the price is confirmed before any work starts.
What this costs
| Booked 14+ days ahead | £25 booking fee £85 per hour |
|---|---|
| Booked within 48 hours | £100 booking fee £65 per hour |
| Same-day call-out | £220 booking fee £45 per hour |
The booking fee secures the visit. Labour is then charged by the hour, so you only pay for the time the job actually takes.
Booking fee £25–£220
£25 + £85/hr booked 14+ days ahead, £100 + £65/hr inside 48 hours, £220 + £45/hr same day. Agreed before we arrive.
Covered under Tumble Dryer
Home Appliances › Tumble Dryer — one of 23 documented jobs in this section.
Same-day blocked tumble dryer vent
Urgent jobs can often be booked for today. Ask when you book and we will confirm the slot before you pay anything.
15 service areas
Birmingham, Coventry, Dorridge and 12 more across the West Midlands.
A dryer vent has one job: move moist, lint-laden air outside. When it becomes restricted, the machine keeps producing heat that has nowhere to go. Drying times lengthen, the cabinet runs hotter, thermal cut-outs start to trip and, in the worst cases, lint in the duct ignites. The restriction is often not where people expect: the hose behind the machine may look fine while the wall termination is packed solid.
Signs the vent is restricted
Clothes take much longer than they used to. The machine feels hot and the laundry comes out unusually warm. The outside flap barely moves or stays shut when the dryer runs. There is a musty smell in the room, or condensation on nearby windows. A thermal cut-out has tripped. Lint is visible around the outside vent or on the wall nearby. Any two of these together are good reason to stop using the machine until the route has been checked.
What you can inspect safely
With the dryer off and unplugged, pull it forward if the hose allows, and look along the flexible duct for crushing or a sharp bend. Disconnect the hose at the machine if it is held by a simple clip, and look inside for lint. Check the outside flap with the machine running to see whether it lifts. Do not dismantle fixed ducting, climb ladders, or work at height to reach a roof or high wall terminal; those are jobs for someone equipped to do them safely.
What the visit involves
We trace the route from the drum outlet to the external termination, checking the hose, any rigid sections, elbows, joins and the flap. Where sections can be accessed and cleaned safely, we clear them. We measure airflow at the outlet to confirm the restriction has been removed rather than moved. If the duct is inaccessible or damaged, we explain what is needed and quote for that work separately, which may include replacing flexible hose with rigid ducting.
Why flexible hose is often the problem
Corrugated flexible hose traps lint in its ridges and crushes easily behind an appliance pushed into a recess. A long run of it with two or three bends can reduce airflow dramatically even when it appears clear. Rigid or semi-rigid ducting with swept bends performs far better, and a short, straight run to an outside wall is ideal. We will tell you when the installation, rather than the appliance, is the limiting factor.
Fire risk and what to do
Lint is flammable and accumulates in exactly the places where hot air passes. If you smell burning, see smoke or discover scorching around the vent, stop using the dryer, isolate it only if the plug is safe to reach, and if there is an active fire leave the property and call 999. Do not attempt to clear a vent that may be hot or that contains smouldering material.
Preventing it coming back
Clean the lint filter every cycle. Have the vent run cleaned periodically, more often in a busy household or where the run is long. Check the outside flap monthly. Avoid crushing the hose when pushing the machine back, and leave the clearance the manufacturer specifies. If the ducting is old foil-type hose, replacing it with rigid duct is worth considering.
Booking the visit
Tell us the dryer type and where the vent terminates, whether the run is short and straight or long with bends, and what symptoms you have noticed. If the outside flap does not open, or you have seen lint around the terminal, mention it, as that usually means the blockage is at the far end.
How the price works
We charge a booking fee to hold your slot, then an hourly rate for the work itself. The fee changes with how soon you need us; the hourly rate changes with the slot you choose. You approve the price before we start, so there is no surprise on the invoice.
Booked 14+ days ahead
£25 booking fee
then £85 per hour of labour
Best value. Book the slot now, pay the smallest booking fee.
Booked within 48 hours
£100 booking fee
then £65 per hour of labour
For jobs that can wait a day or two but not a fortnight.
Same-day call-out
£220 booking fee
then £45 per hour of labour
Urgent problems: standing water, no heat, no power, leaks.
Book the slot
Choose the window that suits you and pay the booking fee. That holds your place in the diary.
We diagnose on site
The engineer confirms the cause and tells you what the job involves and how long it should take.
You approve, we work
Nothing goes ahead until you agree the price. Labour is then charged per hour at your slot rate.
A blocked vent is one of the quieter causes of poor drying and one of the more serious when it comes to fire risk. Lint accumulates out of sight along the duct, and the first sign is often a load that takes far longer than it should. The visit traces the whole route rather than just the visible hose, because the blockage is frequently at the far end.
What our customers say about our home appliances service
4.8 out of 5 from 14 reviews
Exactly what was quoted
What I appreciated was being told what was actually wrong before anyone started. Sorted in under 27 minutes and the invoice matched the quote to the penny.
Job: Tumble Dryer Not Starting Cycle
Good job, slightly late
Solid work. Hourly rate feels fair for the amount of work involved and everything was tested before they left. Would book again.
Job: Toaster Not Working
No mess left behind
Really straightforward. It had been bothering us for weeks; diagnosed properly, fixed the same visit, and the price was exactly what was explained when booking. Can not fault it.
Job: Microwave Button Repair
Book Blocked Tumble Dryer Vent
Tell us what is happening and choose a slot. If you are not sure this is the right job, use the diagnosis panel — it narrows the problem down before you book.
- Booking fee confirmed up front
- Hourly labour, agreed before work starts
- Same-day slots for urgent problems
Questions people ask about blocked tumble dryer vent
Straight answers to the things customers ask most often before booking.
Can I clear the vent myself?
You can check the visible hose for crushing and look inside it after unplugging the machine. Do not dismantle fixed ducting or work at height to reach a high or roof terminal; those need proper access equipment and should be left to us.
How do I know the vent is blocked?
Longer cycles, a hot cabinet and laundry that comes out very warm are common early signs. A flap that does not open, condensation or a musty smell in the room, and lint around the outside terminal also point to a blockage.
Is a blocked vent really a fire risk?
Yes. Lint is flammable and collects where hot air passes. Restricted airflow also causes overheating. If you smell burning or see smoke, stop using the dryer, and call 999 if there is an active fire.
Will you replace the ducting if it is damaged?
Where the duct is crushed, torn or badly routed we will explain the options and quote for replacement separately. Replacing corrugated hose with rigid ducting often improves performance significantly.
What does the visit cost?
The booking fee is paid when booking, and the hourly labour rate depends on how soon you need the visit. The full cost is quoted and approved before work starts, and any replacement ducting or parts are priced separately.
Need blocked tumble dryer vent sorted in Edgbaston?
Book a slot in the diary and pay only the booking fee up front. We confirm the rest before we start.