Why Mice And Pests End Up In Your Dryer Vent (And How To Get Them Out)

Everyone loves clothes right as they come out of the dryer because they feel warm and cozy — the downside is that rats and other pests are constantly looking for warm places to dwell, which can cause problems in the laundry room. Mice, insects, and birds are incredibly agile and can get into little gaps without much effort. Dryer vents are the perfect spot for them to create comfortable shelters and thrive.

Rat or bird nests can be harmful if left unattended for long periods of time. In particularly horrible cases, owners find rats inside the unit itself. Usually, the problem revolves around your ventilation system — holes in a vent hose, loose or broken seals, or even a broken vent flap outside. If you found rats or other pests in your dryer vent or are hearing weird noises coming from it, we'll show you how to get rid of them and keep your vent safe from any other pests coming your way.

There are obvious signs that you're dealing with rodents or other pests in your dryer vents — scratching or squeaking sounds coming from the vents, visible damage in the vent hose, unpleasant odors coming from the appliance, black pellets found inside or around it, and even performance problems with the unit.

If you're sure you're dealing with mice in your unit or the vents, the best course of action is to lure them out using traps like this one from Amazon — there are different models out there to choose from. Call a pest control professional if you're dealing with other types of pests or don't feel confident about using those traps.

After getting the mice out, it's better to replace the vent hose altogether — they're pretty cheap in any hardware store and experts don't recommend cleaning them after infestations. Clean the vent tube of droppings, nesting material, food crumbs, and other debris before installing the new hose. If mice stayed inside the unit, you'll have to clean all the appliance's internals. If unsure, call a professional.

While pests can be hazardous and problematic, especially if left unattended for long, keeping your vents pests-free without breaking the bank is relatively easy. First, check your laundry room for cracks or gaps from where pests could enter and seal them all. Also, make sure they have no entry points in doors or windows.

If you're dealing with pests on your vents regularly, check the vent cover outside to see if there's any damage — if everything looks good but they're still coming in, you'll have to proof it. For this, use a wire mesh cover found in hardware stores. This will ultimately prevent any pests from coming into your vents. You might need to hire a professional to install it.

Pests are the nightmare of most homeowners, but prevention tends to be the best solution. If you're constantly dealing with rats or birds on your vents, it's time to do something about it.