How to prevent birds from nesting in your dryer vent

Abell Pest Control

Sometimes birds like to nest in odd places. One of these places is dryer vents. For some reason, most likely because of the constant stream of warm air, birds will nest in dryer vents. However, that's no good for you and it could cause a fire. While the culprit bird is flying away, you're watching your home burn down. Prevent this nightmare from occurring by following these tips.

Why birds like dryer vents

As mentioned, birds are mainly fond of dryer vents because of the warmth they provide, Do It Yourself noted. Though building a comfortable nest seems like a great idea to birds, it's a horrible idea for you. Nests can block these vents, which isn't good. Dryer vents were placed in homes to let out the hot air created by the dryer and release it into the air, without starting a fire in your home. Once that pathway is blocked by a collection of sticks and mud, you're in trouble. You could have ventilation damage and, yes, possibly a fire.

Check for birds

Before you do anything, examine your vent for birds or worse, bird eggs. Birds will lay their eggs near the vent to keep them cozy before they hatch, Total Duct Cleaning stated. Normally, pregnant mothers will build a nest within 2 feet of the vent and lay eggs in the nest. However, if baby birds are involved, your task is more difficult, as you have to wait for the baby birds to leave the nest. Once the nest is bird free, immediately take the nest out and follow the proper prevention tips. Always remove any twigs or other scraps left from the nest, since new birds may try to use it to build a new nest in the vent.

Find a vent guard

There are a few different options when it comes to preventing birds from settling in your air vents. The first option is simply purchasing a bird screen or some mesh wire to put on your dryer vent. Tailor the size of the screen to your vent. Or, homeowners could invest in a dryer closure system. These systems are slightly more expensive but they're more energy efficient, since they help prevent air from the outdoors from re-entering your home. Homeowners could try physical or visual deterrents, but these often don't work given the location of most vents. Changing your vent from a flap door to a grate door could work as well. You can install any of these types of vents yourself. You just need to pick the one that's right for you.

If you do have a bird problem or infestation in your dryer vent, don't wait. Contact pest control services to safely deal with the problem for you.


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Since 1924, Abell Pest Control has provided quality services, protecting our customers and their patrons from coast-to-coast. Our customers enjoy the expertise and resources of a national provider. Prouder yet, we are members of your community, ready to service your home or business 24/7.

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