Spring is almost here, so you know what that means—it’s spring migration season! Pretty soon birds will be everywhere (and we mean EVERYWHERE). That includes your dryer vents, and having birds in your vents poses a plethora of issues. So, if in the next couple of months, you notice that your dryer is taking longer to dry clothes, chances are you have birds hanging out in your vents and they’ve built a nest there.
But why would birds want to build their nest in your dryer vents? It may seem like a strange place to you, but to birds, your dryer vents are a little slice of heaven. Think about it—your dryer vents are toasty warm, safe from predators, aren’t close to the ground, and protect birds from the elements. What’s not to like?
Well, for birds there actually is a downside, which is that they (particularly the babies) can fall into the vent exhaust pipe, which is a place difficult to escape. But the pros far outweigh the cons for our avian friends. There’s a lot for you to dislike about having birds in your vents, though. For one, having a nest in your vents is a huge fire hazard because of the straw, leaves, and other items used to make it. Plus, the humidity from your dryer vents could cause bird-related illnesses, like histoplasmosis, to spread through your home. Yikes!
So, what can you do? First, identify whether you do have birds in your vents or not. Just a few signs to look for include your dryer not working properly, scratching noises, unpleasant odors (especially if some poor bird has died in your vents), and chirping sounds. Next, see if you have live birds hanging out around the outside end of your vents. If so, your best bet is calling your local critter control, so they can safely remove the birds for you. But if you were hearing signs of birds before, such as chirping, and are no longer hearing them, it’s likely the birds have moved on. This is when you call in the professional dryer vent cleaners to get rid of the nest and the rest of the mess, so your home is safe once again!
Having birds move into your dryer vents certainly isn’t ideal, so pay attention this spring and look for any signs you might have some. If you do, get rid of them immediately and call us to get your vents spic’n’span again!
We're the experts for professional Northern NJ Dryer Vent Cleaning & repair! Give us a call so Northern NJ Dryer Vent Wizard can help you save energy, time, and money. Some of the towns we service include: Bergen County, NJ Essex County, NJ Passaic County, NJ Morris County, NJ Ramsey, NJ and the surrounding NY Metro areas!