topic Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent in Community Chat

Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

NickNack — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 12:45:42 GMT

My dog, Frankie, was going down the steps to my yard yesterday, and a chipmunk was coming her way. The chipmunk finally noticed her and jumped into my dryer vent. I stood there watching and never saw the chipmunk leave. Will he just die in the vent and cause an odor in my house? Should I do something about this? What would I do if anything?

I'm sure this is a stupid question, but I really don't know.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

Allegheny — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 12:59:03 GMT

Good question. I am presuming that once the coast is clear chipmunk will make his/her way out of the vent on its own.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

shaggygirl — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 12:59:31 GMT

I would detach the hose from both ends, the dryer and to wherever it vents outside, take it outside and shake it out then reattach. On my house the opening on the side of the house has a flapper thing that opens just enough when the dryer is in use to let the air escape. It closes when the dryer is off. You might want to consider having one of those installed. In any case if it was still in there somewhere I would think if you reach behind your dryer and shake the hose if it was in there you'd hear it trying to scramble out.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

dex — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:05:41 GMT

Animals like to get into those vents to keep warm and will nest in there.When you get the chipmunk out you need to get a better vent cover...sorry I don’t know how to get it out.I will be checking my vent today though.You reminded me about that task.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

phoenixbrd — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:06:26 GMT

I would think that the chipmunk probably left after there was no longer the threat of the dog. Why not place some food at the entrance to the vent just to coax the chipmunk out in case the little guy is still in the vent, which I doubt but just as a precaution.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

NickNack — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:18:30 GMT

Thanks everyone. The problem with me getting behind my dryer is that I have a very tight closet for my washer and dryer. There's no way I could pull the dryer out and get behind it. It's even hard getting it in there when I buy a new one. I think I may get a handyman to come and do it for me and install a vent with a better flapper. I do have the flapper on the vent, but apparently it doesn't stay closed since the chipmunk got in.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

mimomof4 — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:19:53 GMT

If you follow the dryer vent down to your dryer to you hear any scratching or squeaking?

I would follow the suggestion of removing the hose and trying to shake it to make sure nothing is still in there. There is always the possibility that the chipmunk is stick and can't get out.

We had similar issues with our chimney vent, once it got cold birds would fly down it. Then hubby would open the wood stove and birds would fly out or there would be a dead bird in there. We bought a screen to put around the vent so we wouldn't have any more birds.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

Sweetbay magnolia — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:26:38 GMT

Same, @NickNack. My laundry area is just big enough to fit the machines and I can't contort myself to do that stuff, either.

I'll bet they get in there more often than we realize, but you just happened to catch it. Sometimes ignorance is bliss! I know I would fret over it. He/she's probably smart enough to beat a retreat if it's a short run from the house to the exterior.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

SeaMaiden — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:53:06 GMT

@NickNack I replaced my old dryer vent that was more open for letting cold air ...mice😮etc... for one that stays closed when not in use and opens only when drying clothes.

Here are some different kinds.....mine looks like the white one in the center. Home Depot has a nice selection.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

NickNack — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:04:10 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@NickNack I replaced my old dryer vent that was more open for letting cold air ...mice😮etc... for one that stays closed when not in use and opens only when drying clothes.

Here are some different kinds.....mine looks like the white one in the center. Home Depot has a nice selection.

Thanks the one that I have, too, @SeaMaiden. I was surprised the chipmunk got in it so easily. Maybe the flaps don't stay closed very well anymore.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

tishkins — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:13:55 GMT

My vents are on side of house n high up. We used to get birds in there to nest. We went to Lowe's or home depot and bought plastic covers that are like a cage to go over the vent opening . No more little critters in vent

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

Lipstickdiva — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:15:08 GMT

This happened to me once. The poor thing came in through the outside into my dryer but I didn't know it. I put my hands in the dryer to pull out the dried clothes and the chipmunk was dead in my dryer.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

shaggygirl — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:15:29 GMT

@NickNack wrote:
Thanks everyone. The problem with me getting behind my dryer is that I have a very tight closet for my washer and dryer. There's no way I could pull the dryer out and get behind it. It's even hard getting it in there when I buy a new one. I think I may get a handyman to come and do it for me and install a vent with a better flapper. I do have the flapper on the vent, but apparently it doesn't stay closed since the chipmunk got in.

A couple of summers ago every time I went to put clothes in my dryer it was wet in there. Someone clued me in to go check my flapper outside. Sure enough so much lint had built up just inside and around the opening that the flapper wasn't able to close all the way and somehow the wicked summer humidity was causing the problem. As soon as I cleaned off and picked out as much as I could the flapper closed all the way and that was the end of that problem. Soooo, if you have a flapper check to make sure it's not being prevented from completely closing due to lint accumulating around the opening.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

NickNack — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:01:51 GMT

@Lipstickdiva wrote:
This happened to me once. The poor thing came in through the outside into my dryer but I didn't know it. I put my hands in the dryer to pull out the dried clothes and the chipmunk was dead in my dryer.

@Lipstickdiva I was afraid of that happening, too.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

Carol Diane — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:10:46 GMT

NickNack, this happened to me years ago. Unbeknownst to me, a chipmunk got into the dryer hose. Every time I dried my clothes, there would be this horrible smell. My husband took the hose out and sure enough, there was a dead chipmunk in there. We cleaned it out and installed vent covers.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

SeaMaiden — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:13:54 GMT

@NickNack wrote:

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@NickNack I replaced my old dryer vent that was more open for letting cold air ...mice😮etc... for one that stays closed when not in use and opens only when drying clothes.

Here are some different kinds.....mine looks like the white one in the center. Home Depot has a nice selection.

Thanks the one that I have, too, @SeaMaiden. I was surprised the chipmunk got in it so easily. Maybe the flaps don't stay closed very well anymore.

@NickNack Wow! That must have been one inquizative chipmunk! Well I guess I stand corrected LOL! Maybe buy one with a mesh closure since you have some mighty smart little chipmunks

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

Allegheny — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 18:27:42 GMT

@NickNack I just thought of this Go to the vent and open it so Mr/Ms Chipmunk can see day light to exit. Then if you can; (I am in the same situation as you with a closeted laundry area) try and get something with a long handle and reach behind the dryer to give the vent hose a few gentle wacks.

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

SeaMaiden — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 18:54:36 GMT

@NickNack Did you get the chipmunk out of vent yet? Just curious!

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

NickNack — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 19:06:58 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@NickNack Did you get the chipmunk out of vent yet? Just curious!

@SeaMaiden No, but I looked at my vent. One of the slats at the top has broken off, so that's how he jumped in. I'm going to buy a new vent cover tonight at Lowe's. I'm going out to dinner and will do that before dinner. Then I will get something long and see if I can find the chipmunk. If I can't I will have to get a handyman to do it. I don't want my clothes to start smelling like dead chipmunk if it's still in there!

Re: Chipmunk Went In My Dryer Vent

SeaMaiden — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 19:38:45 GMT

@NickNack wrote:
@SeaMaiden wrote:
@NickNack Did you get the chipmunk out of vent yet? Just curious!

@SeaMaiden No, but I looked at my vent. One of the slats at the top has broken off, so that's how he jumped in. I'm going to buy a new vent cover tonight at Lowe's. I'm going out to dinner and will do that before dinner. Then I will get something long and see if I can find the chipmunk. If I can't I will have to get a handyman to do it. I don't want my clothes to start smelling like dead chipmunk if it's still in there!

@NickNack PLEASE DO NOT DRY ANY CLOTHES until you know he is gone!🙁