How To Deal With Animals Living In Your Home's HVAC Ducts
Posted on: 17 November 2015
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When a mouse or squirrel gets into your home's duct work, the noise alone can be maddening, not to mention the huge risk of disease they pose to you and your family by being there. Getting rid of rodents in your ducts is important, and taking steps to keep them from getting back in is as well. Follow these tips for getting rid of the critters living in your home and keeping them out for good.
Setting Mouse Traps
Count the number of floor or ceiling vents you have in your home that are connected to the ducts and buy a mousetrap for each one. After removing the vent covers, carefully set traps in each vent. After replacing vent covers, be sure to go back at least once a day to check the traps. If you do catch one, make sure to put on gloves before removing and handling it. Avoid tossing a dead rodent in the toilet or into the trash. The best way to dispose of a dead animal is by burying it in the ground.
Removing Dead Animals From Ducts
If you have been hearing noises coming from your heating and cooling vents, chances are good you have a mouse or squirrel living in them. When critters are living in your ducts, the chances are also good of them also dying there. The aroma of a dead animal in your ducts is unmistakable and disgusting. If you smell a bad scent, especially when the heat or air comes on, you may have a dead carcass rotting inside your ducts. The best way to handle this problem is by calling a professional pest control service because they have the equipment necessary to reach the dead animal if it is a long way from the vent openings.
Preventing Rodents From Entering Ducts
Taking steps to prevent rodents from getting into your home, especially in the ducts, is important to avoid the diseases they carry. One such disease called Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, can cause serious symptoms of high fever, painful muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea. If rodents are living in your ducts, the airflow from your heating and cooling system can spread this disease throughout your home.
Keeping a clean house helps to ensure healthier air indoors, especially when you take the time to keep your HVAC ducts clean. For more information, contact a duct cleaning service in your area.