Yes, this happens a lot because vent covers are the only thing that closes four-inch ducts that run straight into laundry rooms. Flaps held open by lint or damage can leave them open as unguarded tunnels.
Most homeowners never think about their dryer vents. And when they do, they think about them as one way ducts that air goes through like an exhaust pipe on a car. That’s true, but it’s not the whole truth as far as rodents are concerned.
Bad news: if your dryer vent is damaged or stuck open, mice can use it like a tunnel right into your home. It also doesn’t help that laundry air smells nice and is warm, and that draws mice in. Lint is often to blame here since it can cause flaps to get stuck open. Sometimes, in cold Michigan winters, these vents can get frozen open as well. Even if this doesn’t happen, sun and cold exposure can render the plastic brittle with time and crack the louvers right off.
Mice can then easily walk in. They don’t need to chew or squeeze. They just walk through. Even if the vent itself is fine, a lot of the time, the space around it isn’t sealed and a small crescent of daylight is enough to let them walk in too.
To fix this problem, regularly clean lint off the louvers of the dryer vent. Clean the duct itself as well. If the vent is stuck or broken, replace it. Consider installing a collar around the vent as well so the area around it is not wide open too.
If mice are getting in around your vents or foundation, Mosquito Squad of Greater Lansing can help. Mosquito Squad finds how mice are getting in, clears them with traps and bait stations, and seals the entry points with chew-resistant materials. Annual inspections will help you protect your home over time.
