Bye Bye Birdie

Fall is finally here! The air is crisp and cool, and we're finally getting some much-needed rain. The holidays are just around the corner, too. With the cooler, wetter weather, small critters like birds will start looking for shelter, and dryer vents are pretty much perfect. They're dry, warm, and out of the elements—ideal for the birds. But for homeowners, this is a danger. Bird nests are often made from materials like dry branches, grass, and leaves—perfect kindling for a fire hazard. If you notice any of the following signs, birds may have taken refuge in your vents.

1. You can hear chirping.

If your vent is located closer to the ground or is a shorter vent near a wall, you may hear chirping sounds. If you hear a bird call near your vent, you should check both the outside and inside of your dryer vent. It's possible the birds are right at the opening, or they may have burrowed deeper into the shaft to get closer to the warmth.

2. You see birds flying in and out of the vent.

This is a clear sign that a bird, or a family of birds, is nesting or attempting to build a nest in your vent. Beating them to the punch by installing a vent cover can prevent further nesting. However, be sure to clean out your vent before installing the cover to avoid trapping any birds inside.

3. Debris sticking out of your vent.

When inspecting your vent, you might typically notice lint. But if you see sticks, grass, or leaves sticking out, it's possible there's a bird's nest in your dryer vent. In early spring, when birds are laying eggs, the nest could still be active. In later spring or early summer, the nest may be abandoned. Listen for chirping near the vent to help determine whether the nest is still in use. If you're in an area with protected bird species, consider contacting a local wildlife refuge. If there's no chirping, you likely have an abandoned nest, which you can remove yourself or have a professional technician take care of. They'll remove the nest and any buildup caused by it.

If you notice any of these danger signs in your dryer vent there are some things you can do:

1. Get your dryer vent cleaned.

Having your dryer vent cleaned annually is a great way to keep it cleared from dangerous debris and animals. Give us a call and schedule a dryer vent cleaning.  We will clean your vent from the inside and outside of the house to make sure that all debris is fully removed.  We will then inspect the vents to make sure that there isn’t any damage done to the venting.  

2. Have a vent cover installed on the outside of the vent.  

You don’t want just any vent cover installed.  Some dryer vent covers can cause more harm than good and can block lint from exiting the vent. We will use vent covers that help to keep animals out of the vents, but still allow lint to exit the vents.  When we come out to inspect the vent we can also quote how much it would be to either install a vent cover or replace your current vent cover if it is needed.