Dead Rodent in Your Ductwork? Here's What To Do

When you have a foul odor in your home, it could be coming from a rodent that has crawled into your ductwork and died. This strong, unpleasant smell can last for a long time if you don’t find and remove the dead rodent. Find out more about how to get clean ductwork when you’re dealing with a rodent carcass.

Finding the Source

How can you tell where the dead rodent is located? In order to have it removed, you’ll need to find it first. You can do this by going around your home and determining where the smell is the strongest. This will help you figure out where the dead rodent is, although you might have a hard time reaching its location inside your ducts.

Removing the Dead Rodent

How should you handle the removal process? You should have professional maintenance done on your ductwork, which includes finding and removing dead rodents. A professional ductwork cleaner has the tools and equipment to determine exactly where the animal is and safely remove it. This must be done carefully to avoid exposure to potentially harmful pathogens. Keep in mind that professionals are able to reach areas of your ductwork that are hard for you to get to. This allows for an easier time getting dead rodents out, so that they can be safely and properly disposed of.

Cleaning Ductwork

After removing the dead rodent, it’s important to ensure that you have clean ductwork that is free of germs and odors. Professional duct cleaners can disinfect your ducts and use products that eliminate strong, unpleasant odors that dead rodents leave behind. While it might take some time for the odors to completely go away, they will eventually fade. Once you have had your ducts cleaned after a dead rodent removal, consider having them maintained on a regular basis. This will keep your ducts in great shape year after year.

If you need clean ductwork in your Coastal Bend home, contact CCAC. Our experts can remove dead rodents, dust and other debris from your ducts, so that your home has healthy air to breathe.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about your HVAC system, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.