Last fall, I started hearing strange noises in the walls of my house.
I figured it was either squirrels, mice or chipmunks running around in there.
I knew these critters were going to cause damage, possibly to wiring, insulation and even the studs of the walls. They chew and build nests and leave all sorts of disgusting debris behind. I set out a whole bunch of traps and poison but accomplished nothing. I inspected the exterior and interior of the house, searching for where the rodents were getting in, with no luck. It wasn’t until I scheduled regular maintenance for the furnace that I found out the pests were inside the ductwork. They’d gotten in through the outdoor component of the air conditioner. They caused a lot of problems with the cooling equipment and cost me a great deal of money in repairs. Plus, the infestation prevented me from starting up the furnace. I didn’t want the air my family breathes passing through ducts clogged with mouse droppings and debris. I called an exterminator to get rid of the rodents and followed up with duct cleaning. The HVAC contractor brought in specialized equipment that looked a lot like an oversized vacuum cleaner. A lengthy hose with a brush attachment was snaked into the duct system. The brush dislodged stubborn contaminants which were then sucked up and collected. The duct cleaning process took several hours but caused no damage or mess. Not only did the sounds in the walls disappear but the furnace operated much more efficiently and effectively. I noticed that my house stayed cleaner, smelled better and we enjoyed a more even temperature from room to room.