Community Chat

[NickNack]

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.

[Allegheny]

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

[shaggygirl]

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.

[dex]

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.

[phoenixbrd]

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.

[NickNack]

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.

[mimomof4]

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.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

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.

[SeaMaiden]

@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.

[NickNack]

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@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.

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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.