How to Keep Birds from Entering Your Dryer Vent?

If you’re worried about birds entering into your dryer vents, then you’ve come to the right place. If you’re hearing noises inside the vents, and are a little worried, then it might be a little late. Still, if the second option is you, you need to look for the best bird removal professionals near you at bird-removal.com.

Birds in the vents pose a threat to the structure of the vent itself, as they may cause serious structural damage. A bird building a nest inside your dryer vent will seriously impede the well-functioning of the vent itself. It may also bring your drying to a complete and sudden halt.

Not only that, but they also run the risk of getting trapped and dying in there. This is sad for the bird, but also sad for you, since a dead animal will typically attract other live ones.

The sooner you address a bird situation, the easier it is to minimize the damage. And the less damage there’s likely to be. So if you’re already dealing with a bird inside the dryer vent, reach out to a professional today.

If you’re looking for ways to prevent a bird inside the dryer vent, read on.

Install a dryer vent bird guard

Yes, there is such a thing, and yes, that’s pretty easy. A dryer vent bird guard, as the name suggests, is essentially a plastic cage that fits over the entry of your dryer vent. The holes in the grate are too small for an actual bird to get through, but just big enough to let air flow. Bear in mind that a dryer vent guard doesn’t encourage lint accumulation (which is flammable, and may cause even more significant problems).

It is important to keep in mind that the bird guard we’re talking about here is made of plastic, and not metal. While some homeowners will try installing a metal grate over the existing hood of their vent, that’s generally not a good idea.

Why?

Because a metal grate is typically made up of smaller holes, and may impede air circulation, and encourage lint build-up. As such, metal grates are not considered the best approach for bird control. Do yourself a favor, instead, and opt for a nice plastic cage.

Check regularly

With or without dryer vent covers, you’ll need to have a professional come round once a year, to check that your vents are in proper working order. First, a damaged dryer vent can increase the risk of fire in your home.

Second, a damaged vent may be easier to access, and as such, more appealing to bird intruders.

The good part about this annual inspection is that they will also check the vent covers themselves, to make sure they’re still doing what they’re supposed to.

Be on the lookout

Since one of the first steps of wildlife removal is prevention, keep your eyes peeled for signs of a bird infestation in or around your home. If you’ve had one in the past, check around the area where they nested before. There’s probably a reason why last year’s birds thought that place was snazzy.

You’ll also want to listen for bird noises like chirping, rustling, or fluttering sounds coming from anywhere around the house, but particularly from the vent itself.

Remove attractions

Always remember that the reason why birds are flocking (so to speak) to your property is that you’ve got something they want. In most cases, this is either a comfy place to shelter away from predators, but close to a source of food or water. Some people have bird feeders and bird baths in their yard, which is a lovely concept, but may increase the risk of birds getting into the dryer vent.

If you notice a lot of birds hanging around the place, yet can’t figure out what’s attracting them, call for back-up. Ask animal exterminators such as C&C Wildlife Control to have a look around. Professionals are often able to spot a weakness in the home, or a possible attraction source that the homeowner himself missed.

But reducing the sources of food/water around the home, and keeping the vents in mint condition should go a long way in deterring birds.