Birds Nest In Dryer Vent

While seemingly harmless, bird nests in dryer vents can cause poor dryer efficiency, human respiratory infections and dryer fires. In a three-year span within the last decade, dryer fires have resulted in $35 million in residential home property loss, according to The U.S. Fire Administration. Patriot Dryer Vent Cleaning San Antonio shares the following tips for homeowners on how to inspect and properly remove bird nests from the dryer vent.

Warning Signs:

Loss in Dryer Efficiency: A first sign of a bird’s nest in a dryer vent is that the dryer suddenly becomes less efficient, taking longer to dry clothes. The bird’s nest blocks the vent and traps moisture in the dryer, requiring more time to dry a load.

Droppings in Plain Sight: Birds leave droppings near their nests, and a key inspection step is to check for them just below the exterior portion of a dryer vent, outside of the home.

Debris around the Vent: If you see pine needles, hay, grass and other small debris inside the dryer vent or right near the opening, this is a sign of a bird nest.