Forty years, one pair of hands.
Stephen Hillenbrand started LINT EXTRACTORS in 1986 and has stayed deliberately small ever since — because that is the only way he can still be the one doing the work.
The LINT EXTRACTORS mascot, lifted from his own site.
“I stayed small over the years because it allows me to work directly with my customers.”
In 1986 a neighbor had a fire in their dryer. Steve started LINT EXTRACTORS the same year, and has spent every year since on the few feet of duct that caused it.
He has built the business on honesty, integrity and personalized service — his words — and on a decision most trades make the other way. He never scaled up. He never took on crews. Since he does all the actual work, you always know exactly who is coming to your house.
He was born and raised in the Bay Area and has lived in Sonoma, Marin and the East Bay, which is why the service area looks the way it does. He has also done work for several local appliance repairmen — the people who see the inside of these machines for a living — and it was met with high praise.
Somewhere along the way customers started calling the company the cardiologists of dryer ducts. He liked it enough to put it on the sign.
“My mission is to be honest, care for my customers, and do the best job to be done.”
He didn’t just clean the ducts. He invented the brush.
“I also invented and sold the Lint Extractor brush on QVC™ for several years!”
That is where the company name comes from. He still keeps the brushes on hand at $15 — ask about one when he is out at your place.
What he has been given, in his own words.
Blue Star Best Dryer Duct Company of the Bay Area
Blue Ribbon Next Door Award
Invented and sold the Lint Extractor brush on QVC
The four things he will not compromise on.
He answers the phone
“When you call LINT EXTRACTORS, I’ll always pick up to answer your questions and schedule your appointments.” Not a call center, not a form queue — Steve.
No arrival windows
You get a time, not a four-hour window. If he’s going to be more than 15 minutes late, he calls you before that time passes.
No subcontractors, ever
“I never subcontract to other people or entities.” The person who quotes the job is the person who shows up and does it.
A flat fee, up front
Duct cleaning is charged as a flat fee — you know the number before the work starts, and it doesn’t move once he’s under the machine.
Born and raised here — and still working the same hills.
Steve was born and raised in the Bay Area and has lived in Sonoma, Marin and the East Bay, so he knows the housing stock: which decades ran duct where, and which runs are going to be the awkward ones.
- Petaluma
- Sonoma County
- Marin County
- The East Bay
Residential and commercial. If you’re not sure whether you’re in range, call and ask — it’s a quick answer.
