Absolutely, they can! Mice, along with other pests and rodents, find an easy pathway into your home through the dryer vent. The dark, warm, safe and overly inviting “tube” lures them in. Most homes with an electric dryer have exterior vents on the wall where the hot, moist air from the dryer escapes to the outside.

If the outside vent is cracked, uncovered or damaged in any way, household pests will find their way in. As vents age, many of the flappers, slats, or vent covers will not close completely, making access a breeze. If the perimeter edges of the vent are left uncaulked or unsealed, pests can work their way in through these tight, unsealed spaces. It doesn’t stop there….once they enter through the vent, they can easily chew through the dryer’s exhaust duct to gain access to your entire home!

Signs of critters in the dryer's vent

Below are some common signs that you have visitors, or permanent residents:

• Chewed slats or a dryer vent cover that does not close when the dryer is off
• Scratching noises behind the dryer
• Holes in the dryer’s exhaust duct
• Odors in/around the dryer
• Finding small black pellets on the floor behind or around the dryer

Ensuing Problems

If you have visitors in your dryer exhaust duct, you’ll be faced with a laundry list of problems. Besides these visitors hiding in your home and becoming permanent residents, the dryer will become inefficient at doing its job when the exhaust duct is obstructed by debris. The airflow is reduced or blocked, creating the potential for a larger issue – a dryer fire.

Rodents persistently chew and can gnaw at the electrical wiring – also a major fire hazard.

Other issues include the visitor dying in the exhaust duct and the tedious removal process following that discovery.

Prevention is Key

The best way to keep rodents, pests and other critters out of your dryer’s exhaust system is to rodent-proof your exterior wall vent. Simply follow these helpful tips:

• Perform a semi-annual inspection of your dryer’s exterior vent cover to assess what’s going on around it
• Clean up the area to ensure there aren’t any rodent attractants, such as standing water, excess lint, tall plants, flowering plants with seeds
• Ensure all gaps are sealed to prevent entry
• Is the vent cover closing when the dryer is not in use? If not, it should be time to consider a new, improved vent

Consider installing the DryerWallVent, the code compliant vent for safe venting of the dryer’s exhaust. This durable wall vent is constructed of 22-gauge Galvalume^® steel with a lighter gauge steel damper. The DryerWallVent is powder coated to keep its shine, lasting a lifetime. A drip edge assists in standing up to weather exposure, aiding in preventing water entry. This efficient vent termination boasts zero airflow restriction, keeping the lint flowing to the outside, while helping to minimize lint buildup.

Other important features include a hidden hinge pin and spring to keep the damper door operational when the dryer is, and isn’t, in use. The gravity-assisted angled damper with integrated magnets keep the damper door in the closed position in the absence of airflow within the duct. This keeps unwanted visitors OUT.

Available in four standard colors – white, tan, brown and black – the DryerWallVent is the only vent you’ll ever need.

To learn more or to place an order for the DryerWallVent, visit https://www.betterventing.com/wall-vents.

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