Commonly found on the sides of peoples homes are square exhaust vents coming from bathrooms and dryers. Homeowners can sometimes hear chirping and rustling while doing laundry or in their bathroom. How are birds entering these vents and what are they doing in there?
First, a helpful way to identify birds in a vent will be to look for debris hanging out of the vent or excrement on the side of the property below the vent. Bird poop is generally white in color. Birds will usually leave a trail of “white wash” on the side of the home- an easy tell to identify bird activity. Birds can enter these vents if the flaps (louvers) are missing or spaced far enough to allow the birds to shim in. Once in, they begin to create a nest.
Bird nests are composed of organic and sometimes inorganic materials that birds pick up from outside. Bird nests can be quite large. Bird nests in exhaust vents can cause obstructions.
Nests in vents are usually built right in the middle of the exhaust tubing. This can cause congestion and back flow into the home. Birds are known to carry mites and sometimes diseases. For these reasons it’s imperative to ensure the complete removal of any and all debris from the exhaust when decongesting. The use of a camera on a wire can aid with this task. Once the nest and any debris is removed a proper vent cap can be installed to prevent reoccurrences.
Any wildlife that has built a home within a house can cause a problem in regards to health and safety. If you’re hearing rustling coming from your ventilation, or have seen white excrement on the side of your home, contacting a wildlife removal company to inspect early can mitigate the nuisance before it becomes a problem.