No matter how well made the ductwork in your HVAC system is, rodent entry is still a possibility. And sometimes this leads not only to dirt and noise, but also to much more unsavory consequences. The worst that can happen is if an animal trapped inside dies and is the source of a foul odor.
And it’s not so much about the faul smell, of course, as it is about the danger posed by a dead animal in air duct. Bacteria and viruses from the decomposing body will begin to spread throughout the house along with the conditioned air. A dead rodent body in HVAC ductwork is a real threat to the well-being of the entire family.
How to Get Rid of Dead Animal from HVAC Ductwork
Now, we are going to outline the steps you need to take to solve a dead rodent problem in your heating and cooling ductwork. Read to the end to ensure you do everything right and get rid of that foul smell.
#1 How do I verify that the source of the odor is really a dead rodent?
First of all, you need to find out the source of the foul smell. The odor could be coming from a leaking gas appliance, if you have a gas furnace, for example. Check the place where your furnace is installed.
Gas leaks are actually difficult to detect if the equipment is located in an inaccessible space. So, consider whether an attic furnace installation is convenient for you.
But of course it could be a dead rodent or some other small animal trapped in HVAC ductwork. Decomposing cadavers emit foul-smelling gases such as methane and sulfur dioxide. And the human nose is very sensitive to these gases, so even small amounts are easy to detect.
#2 Trust your nose to find dead body
Dead animals create a strong rancid odor that can cause vomiting in some people. The larger the animal body, the more gas is produced during putrefaction.
To start where, identify as accurately as possible the area of HVAC air ducts where the odor is strongest. You can use special gas-sensitive equipment for this, but it’s not worth it. Many homeowners manage simply by using their own nose.
If it’s all too much for you, then just call HVAC professional guys and read no further. Even more, you can call HVAC professionals as well as those firms that provide rodent control.
Professionally certified companies have just the right gas-sensing equipment that can pinpoint the exact location of a dead animal in your heating and cooling system. But still, you can take care of it yourself.
Are these gases dangerous to humans?
According to studies methane and sulfur gas are not highly toxic, but you should still use caution.
Methane is usually harmless, however, at high concentrations, it may reduce the oxygen percentage in air, causing suffocation. It is also extremely flammable and can cause an explosion when its concentration reaches 5% to 15%.
When you are ready to tackle getting rid of a dead rodent, keep your windows open to ventilate the room.
And as you may have noticed, methane is a highly flammable gas. Do not light your HVAC air ducts with a lighter or an open flame, but use a regular battery-operated flashlight!
Sulfur dioxide is a severe irritant to the respiratory tract, eyes, mucous membranes, and skin. Exposure to high doses can cause pulmonary edema, bronchial inflammation, and laryngeal spasm and edema with possible airway obstruction.
#3 Prepare everything you need in advance
For the mission “Get the dead animal out of my HVAC ducts” to succeed, you are to prepare some supplies in advance. Here’s a short list of things you’ll definitely need to remove a dead carcass from your HVAC ductwork:
- rubber gloves,
- a thick-walled plastic bag or two,
- a wire hanger or something similar,
- disinfectants.
Let’s decide right off the bat that you shouldn’t touch a dead rodent with your bare hands. Be sure to wear high rubber gloves, which should be discarded afterwards. It is also worth wearing long-sleeved clothing, which should then be washed at high temperatures. If you have long hair, tuck it into your hairstyle and consider a head covering or headscarf.
Next, prepare a plastic bag or a couple, making sure that it has no holes or breaks. You’ll put the dead animal in the first one. And in the second, put anything that has been used, including gloves, rags, sponges, wire hooks, and so on. If you are sorry to throw away any item or useful tool, be sure to disinfect it thoroughly.
#4 Removing the dead animal from HVAC ducts
Consider yourself lucky if the rodent’s body is close to the vent. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. It’s also good if the dead carcass hasn’t started decomposing badly yet, otherwise you’ll have to pick up a bunch of small pieces instead of one body.
Sometimes it’s really worth it to ask for HVAC technicians‘ help than to suffer on your own. As it happens that the damn rodent has chosen to die in the most unreachable place of the heating and cooling ductwork.
Stock up on a wire hanger or long hard wire, at the end of which you should make a hook. You may still need to call for the help of a HVAC technician. Alternatively, you may make one more vent hole in your heating and cooling ductwork to get the dead body out.
Anyway with your gloved hand, stuff the animal from HVAC system into a thick plastic bag and seal it thoroughly.
#5 HVAC Ducts sanitizing time
Dead rodents can be a source of disease by carrying viruses and bacteria. Therefore, never touch the body with bare hands. Also be careful NOT to use your gloved hand to adjust hair, touch your face or random objects. So, now is the time to sanitize your HVAC ductwork as best you can.
Using a flashlight, examine the area where the animal was located. There may be dried blood and other bodily fluids, as well as droppings, fur, and insects. You need to clean this area very thoroughly, same as the path of the animal inside your heating and cooling system.
The spray disinfectant should be dispersed everywhere you can reach, including other vent hatches. This is the only way you can achieve indoor air quality. If you get a bit lazy, your system will be a source of disease, jeopardizing your family’s health. Although there is always the option of hiring one of your local HVAC companies.
#6 Find out how the rodents penetrated the HVAC system
Once you are done with the dead animal in ductwork, move on to the next step. It’s clear that before it gave up the spirit in your conditioned air, it got in there somehow. Now it’s up to you to find and repair all the HVAC ductwork damage.
The most logical place to start your search is the attic of your home. Check out this article so I don’t have to repeat myself: How to Spot Rodent Entry Points and Get Rid of Them. In any case, ventilation ducts are not meant for rodents or other animals. Usually, the HVAC system network has barriers against uninvited guests, but they have likely been damaged.
Of course, no one wants to spend their day off climbing in the attic and looking for rodent entry points. So consider the option of hiring a professional HVAC company to take care of all the hassle. If this HVAC company has a reliable reputation, then small animals in the duct work will cease to be your problem for years to come.
#7 Seal the damaged vent
After a thorough inspection of the entire HVAC duct, you should focus on sealing the damaged areas. If after all you’ve been through you’re ready to call a HVAC technician, that’s ok. This way you can get the HVAC ductwork holes repaired, more over have your air conditioner inspected.
Timely maintenance services can make your vent system much more energy efficient. This way you can always get an in-home estimate on whether the HVAC requirements are being met. If you’re a tough nut and still determined, here’s a video to help:
FAQ: How To Get Rid Of Dead Animals in HVAC Ducts
How do you get rid of dead animal smell in heating and cooling ducts?
The best solution to eliminate the odor from a dead rodent is to hire an HVAC company. Among the things they provide are not only maintenance services, but also professional cleaning and sanitizing. An HVAC technician will save you from tedious and sometimes nauseating cleaning. But if you still decide to take matters into your own hands, here is a 7-step plan on how to get rid of a dead animal in ductwork.
What happens if a rodent dies in a ductwork?
Any rodent or rat in HVAC ductwork is a huge threat to all members of your family. Its decomposing body and dried blood will be a source of pathogens spread by air conditioning throughout your home. In addition, all of this spreads through air conditioning with a disgusting odor.
How do you get an animal out of HVAC ductwork?
An animal got in a your HVAC ducts duct network can become trapped inside. This could cost it its life and cause you a lot of trouble. Try to catch it as soon as possible. This will reduce the damage the rodent can do to your heating and cooling services, as well as save you the trouble of pulling a dead, decomposing body out of the most inaccessible corner of the system.
To get the animal out of HVAC system, locate leaky ducts or entry points and leave baited traps there. If the entire HVAC ducts appear to be in good working order, unscrew a vent cover with a screwdriver and leave the bait trap nearby. If something goes wrong and attempts are unsuccessful, call an HVAC technician to deal with it.
Why does it smell like something died in my vents?
If you feel your vent smells like someone died in there, it may be actually true and some intruding critter has died in there. First, you can call the HVAC professional guys to take care of it. And second, you can help yourself. Try to identify the smelliest spot and open the nearest hatch or vent cover. You may be able to get the dead body out. Use our instructions to make it quick and easy.
In Summarizing
If you’ve had to go through pulling a dead animal out of a vent duct, do everything in your power to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Call a professional to check the energy efficiency of your HVAC system with an in-home estimate.