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Stop using the dryer until the vent is clear, and call a dryer vent professional to remove the nest and clean the vent. A nest blocks the airflow your dryer needs and is made of dry, flammable material, so running the dryer against it isn't safe. Don't cover the vent with a screen afterward. Screens at the end of a dryer vent aren't allowed under the Massachusetts Residential Code, and they clog with lint.
I'm David Sherman, owner of Dryer Dryer LLC and a Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician (C-DET), and I'm on every call. Birds and critters in dryer vents are a real Cape Cod problem, with vents under decks, low on walls or up on roofs, and second homes that sit quiet for months.
What happens when something nests in a dryer vent
What happens when something nests in a dryer vent
A dryer vent is warm, dry and sheltered, a great spot for a bird or a mouse. Once nesting material goes in, it does two things:
It blocks airflow. Hot, damp air and lint can't get out, so the dryer runs longer and hotter, and lint packs in behind the nest.
It adds fuel. Twigs, grass and feathers are dry and flammable, sitting right where the dryer's hot exhaust is supposed to go.
With a gas dryer, a blocked vent can also let carbon monoxide back up into the house, so keep working CO alarms.
Signs something is living in your vent
Signs something is living in your vent
Chirping, scratching or fluttering from the vent or the wall behind the dryer
Twigs, grass or feathers sticking out of the outside vent hood
Birds flying in and out of the vent
The outside flap stuck open, or it doesn't open when the dryer runs
Little or no air coming out of the vent while the dryer is on
Loads taking much longer than they used to
A musty or unpleasant smell when the dryer runs
What to do right now
What to do right now
Stop using the dryer.
Don't run the dryer to "blow it out." That just pushes heat and lint against the blockage.
Don't seal or screen the vent yourself. A screen clogs with lint, and blocking the opening traps heat and moisture.
Book an inspection or cleaning, or call me at (508) 225-5846 and tell me what you're seeing.
What I do
What I do
I inspect the whole vent from the dryer to the outside, clean inside the dryer and the full vent run, and check the airflow afterward. You get a digital report with airflow numbers and before-and-after photos, so you can see the vent is open again.
When animals are involved, I follow all federal, state and local laws and regulations on protected species.
Removing nesting material may be an additional fee on top of the cleaning, depending on the case.
Vent hoods, guards and the screen rule
Vent hoods, guards and the screen rule
The best thing to keep birds out is a vent hood with a working flap or louvers that close when the dryer is off. A broken or stuck-open flap is an open door.
What you should not do is put a screen or mesh over the vent. The Massachusetts Residential Code, section M1502.3, says it plainly: "Screens shall not be installed at the duct termination." Lint clogs the screen, creating the very blockage you were trying to prevent. I've removed lint screen cages from vent covers on Cape homes for this reason.
If birds keep coming back, a code-compliant bird guard or louvered vent cap is the right fix. Anything beyond a standard cleaning, like replacing a vent hood or adding a guard, is billed as time and materials, and you get an exact quote to approve before I start.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep using my dryer if a bird is nesting in the vent?
Can I keep using my dryer if a bird is nesting in the vent?
No. Stop using the dryer until the vent is clear. A nest blocks airflow and is made of dry, flammable material.
How do I know if a bird or pest is in my dryer vent?
How do I know if a bird or pest is in my dryer vent?
Common signs are chirping or scratching from the vent, twigs or feathers sticking out of the outside hood, birds flying in and out, a flap stuck open, weak airflow outside, and loads taking much longer than they used to.
Should I put a screen over my dryer vent to keep birds out?
Should I put a screen over my dryer vent to keep birds out?
No. The Massachusetts Residential Code, section M1502.3, says "Screens shall not be installed at the duct termination." Screens clog with lint and block the vent.
How do I keep birds out of my dryer vent?
How do I keep birds out of my dryer vent?
Make sure the outside hood has a flap or louvers that close when the dryer is off, and fix a broken or stuck flap. If birds keep coming back, a code-compliant bird guard or louvered vent cap is the right fix, not a screen.
My vent cover has a lint screen cage on it. Is that a problem?
My vent cover has a lint screen cage on it. Is that a problem?
Yes. Screens at the duct termination aren't allowed under the Massachusetts Residential Code because they clog with lint. I've removed lint screen cages from vent covers for exactly this reason.
What should I do if I think something is nesting in my vent?
What should I do if I think something is nesting in my vent?
Stop using the dryer and book an inspection or cleaning. I'll check the whole vent from the dryer to the outside, clean it, and measure the airflow afterward.
Is nest removal included in the $199 cleaning?
Is nest removal included in the $199 cleaning?
Not always. Removing nesting material may be an additional fee on top of the cleaning, depending on the case.
Do you follow wildlife laws when there's an animal in the vent?
Do you follow wildlife laws when there's an animal in the vent?
Yes. When dealing with animal intrusion, I follow all federal, state and local laws and regulations on protected species.
Get your vent cleared
Get your vent cleared
I'm on every call, so the person you talk to is the person who comes out.
Book online for a dryer vent cleaning (online booking is for dryer vent cleanings only)
Call (508) 225-5846 to book an inspection, or if you have birds or pests in the vent right now
Email: clean@dryerdryer.com
Related questions
Related questions
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