FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Children forever remember the thrill of spotting the first egg in their yard and the fascination when learning mother birds bring food back and forth to their young. That thrill and fascination quickly flies away when children and their home-owning parents find one of those bird nests in their dryer vent. The warm, dark and safe location is a common spot for birds to play house – and with bird nesting season kicking off in early spring alongside warmer temperatures, now is the time to look for warning signs, according to Dryer Vent Wizard, North America’s leading dryer maintenance and repair franchise.
While seemingly harmless, bird nests in dryer vents can cause poor dryer efficiency, human respiratory infections and dryer fires. In a three-year span within the last decade, dryer fires have resulted in $35 million in residential home property loss, according to The U.S. Fire Administration. Dryer Vent Wizard shares the following tips for homeowners on how to inspect and properly remove bird nests from the dryer vent.
Warning Signs:
- Loss in Dryer Efficiency: A first sign of a bird’s nest in a dryer vent is that the dryer suddenly becomes less efficient, taking longer to dry clothes. The bird’s nest blocks the vent and traps moisture in the dryer, requiring more time to dry a load.
- Droppings in Plain Sight: Birds leave droppings near their nests, and a key inspection step is to check for them just below the exterior portion of a dryer vent, outside of the home.
- Debris around the Vent: If you see pine needles, hay, grass and other small debris inside the dryer vent or right near the opening, this is a sign of a bird nest.
Removal Steps:
- Wear Protective Gear: Masks, gloves, suits and respirators are necessary to wear while removing the nest, as they host bacteria that can lead to severe illness if inhaled or brought into a home.
- Cautiously Remove Nest: Homeowners often force bird’s nests deeper into the vent, or worse, break nests into small pieces, making it more difficult to remove. Nests absorb moisture from the vent, making it particularly fragile and difficult to remove without a professional. The individual should moisten the nest thoroughly before removing to minimize microbial contaminants becoming airborne.
- Dispose of Nest and Sanitize Vent: Once the nest is entirely removed from the vent, properly dispose of it by placing the nest debris in a double-bagged, wet trash bag and taking it far from the home immediately. A preventative health measure is to effectively clean the vent after the nest is removed. Failure to do so can result in illness and eventually death in the very young or elderly from respiratory infection, as the bird’s bacteria can easily travel throughout the inside of a home.
“As soon as temperatures start to hit 60 or 70 degrees, birds will begin nesting, which means it’s time for homeowners to heed the warning signs that a nest may be in their dryer vent. We encourage homeowners to check their vents around this time of year and take precautions to keep their homes safe,” said David Lavalle, Founder of Dryer Vent Wizard.
For more information or to schedule a visit, visit www.dryerventwizard.com or call 866-498-7233.
About Dryer Vent Wizard
Headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., Dryer Vent Wizard is a North American franchise that specializes in dryer vent repair, replacement, alteration, cleaning and maintenance for both residential and commercial clients. The company was founded in 2004 by Dave Lavalle, who also founded Mr. Handyman, and currently operates 90 locations across the U.S. and Canada, serving over 9,000 communities. Dryer Vent Wizard is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). For more information about Dryer Vent Wizard and to learn more about franchise opportunities, visit www.dryerventwizard.com.
