Bird nesting season begins in early spring and often nest in dryer vents, leading to dryer fires – as nests can be built in a day or less. In a three-year span within the last decade, dryer fires have resulted in $35 million in residential home property loss, according to The U.S. Fire Administration.

http://www.dryerventwizard.com/">Dryer Vent Wizard, the nation's leader in dryer vent repair, cleaning and maintenance, offers homeowners the following DIY tips to properly identify and remove bird nests from dryer vents:

Identify:
1. Loss in Dryer Efficiency: A first sign of a bird's nest in a dryer vent is that the dryer suddenly becomes less efficient, taking longer to dry clothes.
2. Droppings in Plain Sight: Birds leave droppings near their nests, and a key inspection step is to check for them just below the exterior portion of a dryer vent, outside of the home.
3. Debris around the Vent: If you see pine needles, hay, grass and other small debris inside the dryer vent or right near the opening, this is a sign of a bird nest.

Remove:
1. Wear Protective Gear: Masks, gloves, suits and respirators are necessary to wear while removing the nest, as they host bacteria that can lead to severe illness if inhaled or brought into a home.
2. Cautiously Remove Nest: Homeowners often force bird's nests deeper into the vent, or worse, break nests into small pieces, making it more difficult to remove. Be sure to moisten the nest thoroughly before removing to minimize microbial contaminants becoming airborne.
3. Dispose of Nest and Sanitize Vent: Once the nest is entirely removed from the vent, properly dispose of it by placing the nest debris in a double-bagged, wet trash bag and taking it far from the home immediately. A preventative health measure is to effectively clean the vent after the nest is removed to avoid illness and eventually death in the very young or elderly from respiratory infection.