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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterDryer Vent Inspection in Marietta, GA
A dryer vent inspection in Marietta, GA typically runs $79-$149 as a standalone service-separate from Dryer Vent Cleaning services-and takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on duct length and configuration. A technician uses a flexible camera to document every inch of the vent run – from the back of the dryer to the exterior termination cap – and delivers a written report with photographs before recommending any additional work.
If you’re not sure whether your vent needs cleaning, repair, or nothing at all, an inspection is the right first step. It gives you a documented picture of what’s actually inside the duct rather than a sales pitch based on how long ago it was last serviced. At CleanRun Air Duct Cleaning Marietta, we’ve been doing this since 2013 – over 52,000 homes served, every one of them with a written price before work started and a photo record when the crew left. That doesn’t change for an inspection. Tomas Reyes built the company on the principle that a customer should be able to see the evidence before agreeing to anything.
If you’d like to schedule or just want to know what to expect, call us at (470) 516-9337. A live person answers every call. For context on the full scope of what we do beyond inspection, visit our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Marietta page.
When You Need a Dryer Vent Inspection
Not every situation calls for immediate cleaning. Sometimes an inspection alone answers the question. Here are the specific scenarios where it makes sense to start with camera documentation before doing anything else.
- Your dryer takes more than one cycle to dry a normal load. This is the most common complaint we hear from homeowners in East Cobb, Kennesaw Road corridor, and West Marietta. It usually means restricted airflow, but the restriction could be a lint blockage, a crushed flex duct behind the machine, a failed exterior damper, or all three. The camera shows which one – or which combination.
- The exterior of the dryer feels unusually hot during operation. Heat that can’t exit the duct returns to the drum and the motor housing. A blocked or undersized vent run is the most common cause. This is worth documenting quickly because sustained heat buildup is how dryer fires start.
- You’ve moved into a home built between 1990 and 2010 in Marietta and haven’t had the vent inspected. Homes from that era frequently have plastic accordion flex duct inside the wall cavity – a material that both traps lint and degrades over time. Georgia’s summer humidity accelerates that degradation. An inspection tells you whether the existing duct is still serviceable or needs replacement.
- Your dryer vent terminates into a crawl space, attic, or garage instead of outdoors. This is a code violation in Cobb County and a genuine fire and moisture risk. It happens more often than most homeowners expect, particularly in older townhomes near downtown Marietta and in split-level homes where the laundry room is on an interior wall. Camera inspection confirms the termination point and documents the condition.
- You’re getting a second opinion on a competitor’s written estimate. We offer a free second opinion on any written estimate – under Haven Standard Clause 1, our price goes next to theirs in writing, based on what the camera actually shows. Bring the other company’s quote and we’ll do the inspection ourselves and put our number on paper.
- Your last cleaning was more than two years ago and your household runs more than five loads per week. High-volume households in Marietta – particularly those with multiple kids or a home-based laundry operation – accumulate lint faster than the standard annual cleaning schedule accounts for. An inspection confirms whether you’re on schedule or running behind.
Our Dryer Vent Inspection Process
This is what actually happens when a CleanRun technician shows up at your door. We describe it in this detail because a customer who knows what’s coming can evaluate whether the work was actually done – and that accountability is the whole point.
- Written price delivered before the panel comes off. Haven Standard Clause 1 means no exceptions. The technician gives you the inspection price in writing when they arrive. You approve it or you don’t. There is no bait-and-switch to a higher number once they’ve disconnected the dryer.
- Equipment setup and dryer disconnection. The technician disconnects the dryer from the wall, removes the flex connector, and confirms the dryer model and vent diameter (most residential installations in Marietta use 4-inch smooth-wall rigid metal duct, though we regularly find 3-inch and 3.5-inch runs in older homes). The diagnostic camera – the same flexible video system used on longer duct runs – is prepared for insertion.
- Full-length camera documentation, inlet to termination cap. The camera passes through every inch of the duct run, capturing still images and video at each elbow, joint, and transition point. In Marietta homes with runs longer than 15 feet or multiple 90-degree bends, this takes longer and is worth more attention – each elbow adds equivalent resistance equal to roughly 5 feet of straight duct, and our Nikro inspection equipment is calibrated to flag airflow restriction across the full run. Every finding is photographed before anything is touched.
- Exterior termination cap inspection. The technician goes outside – or into the crawl space, or up to the attic, wherever the vent terminates – and physically examines the cap, damper flap, and surrounding penetration. Bird nesting at termination caps is common in the Marietta area, particularly on homes with louvered caps rather than spring-loaded dampers. Squirrel activity inside ductwork is also documented more than most homeowners expect in neighborhoods with mature tree canopy like Indian Hills and Terrell Mill.
- Airflow measurement and debris assessment. Using a calibrated airflow meter at the termination point, we measure actual cubic feet per minute (CFM) against the manufacturer’s rated airflow for your dryer model. A significant gap between rated and measured CFM tells us how much restriction is present – not as a guess, but as a number. Debris depth at identified blockage points is photographed with a reference scale so it’s not a subjective description.
- Written report and documented photo record delivered to you. Before the technician leaves, you receive a written inspection report that includes the camera findings, the airflow measurement, a description of any code or safety concerns found, and – if cleaning or repair is warranted – a written price for that work. Haven Standard Clause 1 applies to follow-on work the same way it applies to the inspection itself. You can approve it on the spot, schedule it for another day, or take the report to another company. The photo record is yours regardless.
BeforeAfterDryer Vent Inspection Pricing in Marietta
A dryer vent inspection in Marietta costs $79-$149 for most residential properties. Here’s what puts a job at the lower or higher end of that range.
| Situation | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Standard single-story home, vent run under 15 ft, accessible termination cap | $79-$99 |
| Two-story home or vent run 15-25 ft with multiple elbows | $99-$129 |
| Complex run over 25 ft, interior termination concern, or crawl space/attic access required | $129-$149 |
| Inspection bundled with dryer vent cleaning on the same visit | Inspection fee applied toward cleaning cost |
A few things that affect where your job falls in those ranges: duct length is the biggest factor. Marietta homes built in the 1980s and 1990s – particularly in the Franklin Road corridor and the subdivisions off Powder Springs Road – often have long duct runs because the laundry room was placed on an interior wall far from an exterior surface. That’s not a problem we created, but it does take longer to inspect properly and that’s reflected in the price. Termination access matters too. A cap on the side of the house at eye level is straightforward. One that exits through the roof, into a crawl space, or behind a finished cabinet takes additional time.
If a competitor has given you a written estimate for dryer vent inspection or Vent Cleaning, bring it. Our free second opinion puts CleanRun’s number next to theirs in writing – based on what the camera shows, not on a flat-fee schedule designed to undercut and then upsell.
Call (470) 516-9337 for a written quote. The estimate is free, and the price you’re given before work starts is the price on the invoice when we leave.
Why the Inspection Step Matters on Its Own
Most companies skip inspection entirely. They book a cleaning, arrive with a shop vac, run it for twenty minutes, and hand you a receipt with no documentation of what was inside the duct before or after. We’ve been photographing the inside of duct runs on every job since 2013 – not because it’s a good marketing photo, but because a customer who can see the debris at the first elbow understands why the cleaning was necessary. And a customer who gets a clean after-photo has evidence the work was done.
An inspection-first approach also protects you from paying for cleaning that isn’t needed yet – or from skipping cleaning when the camera shows a blockage that would have gone undetected another year. In Marietta specifically, the combination of high summer humidity and central air conditioning running parallel duct systems in the same mechanical space creates conditions where lint compacts more densely than in drier climates. That’s not a sales point. It’s a physical property of lint exposed to moisture cycles over time, and it means Marietta homes at the same age and usage level as homes in drier metros will tend to have denser blockages.
The inspection is also the right starting point if you have any reason to question whether your dryer vent system was installed correctly to begin with. Cobb County adopted the International Mechanical Code, which specifies maximum equivalent duct length, prohibits plastic flex duct inside wall cavities, and requires spring-loaded or gravity-operated termination caps – not louvered static grilles. A significant portion of the vent systems we inspect in older Marietta homes don’t meet current code. The inspection documents that. What you do with the information is your decision.
What the Documented Photo Record Includes
This is worth being specific about because “documentation” is a word that can mean anything. What CleanRun delivers as part of every inspection is:
- Camera still images at the inlet, each elbow, each joint, and the termination end – labeled by position in the run
- A debris notation at each finding point, described as an observed measurement or visual description rather than a subjective rating
- The airflow CFM reading at the termination cap, paired with the rated CFM from the dryer manufacturer’s documentation
- A photograph of the exterior termination cap condition, including damper operation and any obstruction found
- A written summary identifying any code concerns under the International Mechanical Code as adopted by Cobb County
- A written price for any recommended follow-on work, itemized by task
You receive this before we leave. It belongs to you. If you decide not to have any follow-on work done – by us or by anyone else – the report still tells you what’s in the duct and what it looked like on the day we inspected it. That’s a baseline record you can compare to at the next inspection.
Safety Note on Dryer Vent Work
Dryer vents are not high-voltage systems, but they carry real risk when blocked or improperly terminated. The U.S. Fire Administration attributes roughly 2,900 residential dryer fires per year to failure to clean – and the vast majority of those fires start in the duct, not the machine. A vent that terminates in a wall cavity, attic, or crawl space rather than outside is both a fire risk and a moisture problem that can compromise structural framing over time. These aren’t scenarios to diagnose by feel. A camera inspection with a measured airflow reading gives you an actual number to act on. If your inspection turns up a vent that terminates indoors or a duct run with visible damage, don’t continue operating the dryer on a normal schedule until a trained technician has addressed the condition.
FAQs – Dryer Vent Inspection in Marietta
How much does a dryer vent inspection cost in Marietta, GA?
A dryer vent inspection in Marietta costs between $79 and $149-see How Much Does Dryer Vent Cleaning Cost? (2026 Price Guide) - Marietta, GA for full pricing details-depending on duct length, number of elbows, and termination access. Standard single-story homes with a run under 15 feet and an accessible exterior cap typically land at $79-$99. Longer or more complex systems run up to $149. Under Haven Standard Clause 1, the price is given to you in writing before the inspection begins – the number doesn’t change between arrival and invoice. Call (470) 516-9337 for your written quote; the estimate is free.
How long does a dryer vent inspection take?
Most residential inspections in Marietta take 30 to 60 minutes. A straightforward run on a single-story home is typically done in under 45 minutes including setup, camera pass, airflow measurement, exterior cap check, and written report. Longer runs, multi-story configurations, or situations where the termination requires crawl space or attic access will take closer to the 60-minute mark. We don’t rush the camera pass – missing a blockage at the second elbow because the first one looked clean is exactly the kind of incomplete work we document against on re-inspections.
Can a dryer vent inspection tell me if I need a full cleaning?
Yes – that’s the primary purpose. The camera documents debris depth and location, and the airflow meter measures actual CFM against the manufacturer’s rated output for your dryer. If the measured airflow is significantly below rated, there’s restriction. If the camera shows lint accumulation at the elbows or a partial blockage at the termination cap, the report describes it with photographs and a reference scale. You receive a written price for cleaning or repair based on what was found – not a flat-fee quote based on assumptions about what’s inside. If the duct is clear and airflow is within normal range, the report says that too, and no cleaning is recommended. For full detail on what the cleaning process covers, see our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Marietta page.
Does CleanRun inspect dryer vents that terminate in attics or crawl spaces?
We inspect them and document them – but a vent that terminates indoors rather than at an exterior wall or roof penetration is a code violation under the International Mechanical Code as adopted by Cobb County, and we note that clearly in the written report. We see this more often than most homeowners expect, particularly in older townhomes near the Square and in 1970s-era split-level homes throughout the Marietta area. The inspection tells you what’s there. The written report tells you what code requires. The decision about remediation is yours, and if you want to proceed, the written price for re-routing the duct to a compliant exterior termination is included in the report before you agree to anything.
Is a dryer vent inspection worth it if I just had the vent cleaned recently?
It depends on who did the cleaning and what documentation they left behind. If you have a photo record showing the inside of the duct before and after the last cleaning, along with an airflow measurement, that’s a usable baseline and a follow-up inspection may not be necessary yet. If the last company handed you a receipt with no images and no airflow data, you don’t have any way to verify the work was actually done – and in that case, an inspection gives you a documented starting point for future comparisons. We regularly inspect vents that were supposedly cleaned within the past year and find blockages that a camera pass would have caught if one had been used. The documented photo record isn’t extra; it’s the evidence that the service happened.
Key Takeaways
- Dryer vent inspection in Marietta runs $79-$149 with a written price before work begins, every time.
- The inspection includes a full camera pass, airflow measurement, exterior termination check, and a written report with photographs – delivered before the technician leaves.
- Marietta’s older housing stock, interior-wall laundry placements, and high summer humidity create conditions where vent blockages develop faster and compact more densely than in drier climates.
- Common code concerns in Cobb County include plastic flex duct inside wall cavities and vents terminating indoors – both flagged in writing if found during inspection.
- Every job is backed by the 365-Day Done Right Promise and the H.A.V.E.N. Standard. If the inspection report is wrong, we make it right.
- Free second opinion available on any written estimate from a competitor – our number goes next to theirs in writing, based on camera findings.
Schedule Your Dryer Vent Inspection in Marietta
If you’re in Marietta and want to know what’s actually inside your dryer vent – not a guess, not a sales pitch, a camera image and an airflow number – call (470) 516-9337. Tomas Reyes and the CleanRun team have been doing this since 2013, and every inspection leaves you with a written report and a photo record you can use as a baseline for years. The estimate is free. The price is in writing before we start. And if something’s wrong with the work, the 365-Day Done Right Promise is in writing on the job record, not just stated here.
For a broader look at what dryer vent service includes beyond inspection, our home page covers the full scope of what CleanRun does across Marietta and the surrounding area.
Written by Tomas Reyes, Owner at CleanRun Air Duct Cleaning Marietta, serving Marietta since 2013.