There are many different kinds of pests that can take up residence in your air ducts. Here are a few of the most common in our area:
- Wasps. If you’ve been noticing more wasps in your home recently, they could be getting in through the air ducts. Usually, when there’s a nest in the HVAC system, you’ll see at least two or three new wasps in your space daily.
- Small insects like carpet beetles, clothing moths, and ants. Insects will often use air ducts to travel from room to room of your home looking for food or nesting materials. Ant infestations are typically easy to spot: you’ll see a trail of ants coming out of your vents. But for other insects like carpet beetles or moths, the signs may be more subtle, such as holes in your clothing or carpets.
- Larger animals like birds, mice, squirrels, and rats. A pest problem involving larger animals will likely be the easiest to identify. You’ll hear scratching, wing-flapping, chirping, and other indicators coming from your vents. You may also be able to see nests from the exterior of your home or find rodent droppings around your vents.
Other signs of a pest problem:
- Lower HVAC efficiency. Pests that create nests in your HVAC system, such as wasps, birds, and mice, will obstruct the airflow in your air ducts. You may notice a higher bill at the end of the month or weak air flow when you turn on your heating or cooling system.
- Bad smell. Thanks to their nesting materials, droppings, food, and more, pests in your HVAC can make your home smell quite foul.
- Flies. If you’re suddenly dealing with a fly problem in your home, it could be a sign that something is decomposing in your air ducts.
We should note that you do not have to put yourself into contact with pests in order to identify them! If you notice any of the signs that we’ve listed here, that’s enough to move onto step two and allow the pros to take over.
Step 2: Call in the exterminator
No matter what kind of pest problem you’re dealing with, an exterminator should be your first call. They can safely remove any kind of infestation.
Step 3: Have your air ducts professionally cleaning
Even when the pests are gone, they may have left droppings, food, fur, and feathers in your air ducts. A professional air duct cleaning is the best way to ensure that your family will be safe from exposure the next time you turn on your HVAC system.
Step 4: Prevention and Maintenance
If you’ve dealt with pests in your HVAC, we can imagine that you don’t ever want to have to go through it again! That’s why having a prevention plan is crucial to ensuring that your heating and cooling system is safe from another invasion. Here’s how:
- Have your system sealed. Eliminating gaps in your ductwork can go a long way towards keeping pests out of your ducts.
- Install screens for your external vents. Vent screens can keep a variety of pests out of your HVAC without obstructing airflow.
- Have your HVAC regularly maintenanced. Pests are often drawn to air ducts that have a build up of lint and other materials that can be used for nesting or as a food source. Regular cleaning can lower your risk for pests in HVAC air ducts!