This past spring, I heard strange sounds coming from the walls and ceilings.
I realized that I had a problem with mice, so I set out traps and poison.
I didn’t catch anything and the sounds continued. Eventually, I figured out that these pests had gained access to the heating and cooling duct system. They were running through the pipes and definitely leaving debris behind. Although the weather was warming up quickly, I was reluctant to start up the air conditioner. I wasn’t sure what the operation of the cooling system would do to the mice. I certainly didn’t want a bunch of dead rodents decomposing in the ducts. I also didn’t want my family breathing in air contaminated with mice feces. I wasn’t sure if I should call in an exterminator or an HVAC contractor. I decided to start by getting rid of the mice. The exterminator handled the problem quickly and effectively. He not only targeted the mice but greatly cut down on the population of flies, mosquitoes and cockroaches. I then hired an HVAC professional to inspect and clean the duct system. The technician found that there were major leaks in the seams where the ducts connect, which allowed for the mice to get inside. These same flaws would have ended up wasting a tremendous amount of energy. He also discovered a significant buildup of pollutants within the ducts. Any debris in the system blocks airflow and causes greater strain on the air conditioner, diminished comfort and higher energy usage. I’m not sure if the mice caused all of these problems or if they helped me to discover and resolve the issues.
space heater