How To Get Rid Of Birds In A Dryer Vent

Birds nest in the oddest places. Chimneys, light fixtures and even dryer vents can become their temporary home when they're searching for a safe place to raise their young. A bird's nest in your dryer vent is dangerous for a variety of reasons. If the bird's nest clogs your dryer vent, it can cause a fire. Birds are also disease carriers. If the bacteria and parasites they carry enter your home, serious illnesses can occur. It is essential to get rid of the birds in your dryer and prevent them from coming back, for the health and safety of your family.

Step 1

Open the dryer door and listen. If you hear babies chirping, that means there is a nest inside and the baby birds are feeding. You might need to listen in a few times before you hear the babies. The parents usually feed in 20-minute intervals and you should hear the chirping in between.

Step 2

Allow the birds to finish their nesting. The baby birds and their parents will usually leave within a week or two after you first notice them. Run the dryer very sparingly during this time.

Step 3

Clean out the dryer vent once the bird family leaves. You can accomplish this by moving the dryer away from the wall, disconnecting it from the vent and making a hook out of a wire clothes hanger. Use the clothes hanger to push the nest and all of the other bird debris out of the vent.

Step 4

Vacuum as much debris as you can out of the dryer vent and immediately throw away the bag. The vacuum bag should be placed in a plastic bag, tied and thrown in an outside trash bin.

Step 5

Reattach the dryer to the dryer vent. Install a dryer vent cover to keep the birds from nesting in your dryer again.