Rodent infestation is never ideal in any part of your home. One of the worst places to discover rodents is in your home's ducting within the air conditioning system. This is very problematic and needs to be addressed right away. Here are some things you need to know:
When Do You Know You Have a Problem?
When your air conditioner is not working properly and you cannot find any issues with the mechanics of the system, the next step is to check the ducting for issues. As you look at the duct work, look for any holes or clues to rodents. Some indicators include chewed matter around the ducting, animal droppings, and bad smells. If you find anything that resembles rodents, you need to contact your residential air conditioning contractor right away. Your air conditioner will not work with this damage.
How Is This Issue Fixed?
If you find rodent infestation in your duct work, you need to act fast. If you let the problem linger, your entire air conditioner will continue to not function properly and can withstand permanent damage.
The first step in fixing the problem is prevention. You need to find out where the animals are getting in to your ducting. Check for any small holes in your home near the area where your duct work is. Look for any inexplicable openings around the chimney, in vents, and any other areas that lead outside. You then need to patch these areas to keep the rodents out.
If rodents are currently living in your duct work, you need to have them removed. If this is not something you want to do, you will need to hire a professional exterminator to help you with this step.
Next, you need to ask your HVAC contractor about the state of your ducting. It may or may not be able to be reused. If the duct work is too damaged or if it contains droppings or other excrement, you may want to consider a replacement of your ducting, or at least a partial section where the rodents lived. If the damage is minimal, you may be able to salvage the ducting with some tape.
Rodents living in your ducting can be frustrating. They can cause major damage to your air conditioning system, but they can also spread disease. The air that flows past the rodent damage can get into your home, even if at a slower rate due to the duct work damage. It is best to fix this issue quickly to keep this bad air from getting into your home.
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