Is Your Dryer Vent Home To Migratory Animals? You Could Be In Danger

March 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Spring has arrived. Birds and other wildlife are busy building nests. Dryer vents are a very inviting choice of home for many little critters. This can create a very dangerous situation for home owners. Tim Reiher, President and Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician for Clean an Green Dryer Vent Experts, offers simple tips to prevent these critters from creating a homestead in your dryer vent system.

“Nests restrict the dryer vent system causing lint to build up in the vent and eventually into the dryer itself. Many homeowners and uncertified professionals will put a cage over the vent as a quick fix. However, putting a cage over the vent to prevent birds from nesting also keeps the lint in.” says Reiher. There are over 15,500 household fires annually that are started in the dryer vent.  Lint build up in the dryer is what causes these fires. “The small spaces of dryer vents are cozy for small rodents and birds. Every year at this time we receive several calls that a customer’s dryer isn’t working properly or they complain about a foul odor caused by dead animals.”

There are some safe options for homeowners to use that can both prevent animals from nesting and maintain proper airflow in your dryer vent system.  According to Mr.Reiher, “Louvered covers have always been better than the vent hoods. In today’s world products are always improving and the “No Nest” dryer vent cover is one of those products.”

Some of the “No Nest” vent cover features include:
• Special door design cannot be opened from the outside by birds.
• Reliable closure to eliminate drafts.
• Door opens freely for adequate venting.
• Removable hood allows easy access for cleaning.
• No screens that plug up with lint which will reduce dryer efficiency and create a fire hazard.
• Tested in bird infested areas with 100% success, with annual cleaning.

In an effort to make consumers more aware, Clean and Green Dryer Vent Experts ask homeowners to look for these warning signs:

• Clothes are taking more than one cycle to dry, especially jeans and towels.
• Lint no longer appears on lint screen.
• Dryer repeatedly stops during a cycle.
• Clothes have moldy smell after dry cycle.
• Check for loose lint behind your dryer.
• If you can't hear or feel air moving from the vent from the exterior you may have a clogged vent.


Take a moment to check out your dryer vent cover while doing spring cleaning. If you would like more information or have experienced one of the above warning signs visit the Chimney Safety Institute of America’s website at http://www.csia.org/ or call Clean and Green Dryer Vent Experts at 734-377-4175. Keep your family safe this year.

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Clean and Green Dryer Vent Experts, LLC is a Michigan based family business. They service all of Southeast Michigan and provide dryer vent cleaning, repair, installation, and modification performed by Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians only.