Beware Screens Over
Dryer Vents!
I found yet another one of the newer screened vent hoods clogged this week, and with Starlings, Wrens, and other amorous critters trying to nest in any available cavity in or around your humble abode this time of year, thought I’d better warn you about this.
Here's one popular version, but there a several on the market:

The good news with most of these is
that the screens usually
snap right off, and
if yours looks like this, I highly recommend you go remove the
screen from yours ASAP.
The short version: never put any type of screen over your dryer vent!
I’m seeing more screened hoods on the market than ever before, and manufacturers need to be informed that this is a big mistake.
Even though I still see it occasionally, most everyone realizes attaching pantyhose to a dryer vent is a fire, or at least
a dryer service call, waiting to happen. It seems incredible that a 3/8 inch mesh screen can possibly clog with dryer lint, but
I see it happen on a regular basis. Common symptoms
include poor drying and long dry times, and a dryer that burns out its thermal fuses and/or elements regularly.
If your dryer exhibits any of these symptoms, the
first thing you do is run it on 'no heat', empty and with a clean lint
filter, and check the airflow
outside. As we’ve discussed before, airflow is much more important than heat in the drying process.
If
your vent hood's very old, or its screen is one of those that's hard
to remove,
replace it with a louvered type hood. You'll get improved airflow, better sealing,
a cleaner appearance, and fewer critters in the bargain. The
louvered hoods don’t appear to attract cavity-nesters at
all.
Here's what they look like:

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