An animal in your HVAC ducts is something no Detroit home or business owner wants to deal with. Pests like mice, rats, squirrels, birds and insects can all find their way inside. Once they’re in, they can damage ductwork, tear insulation, and cause possible health hazards like allergies and asthma.
Knowing how to tell if you have animals in your HVAC system will help you know when to contact an exterminator — and to call FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical after removal for repair services.
Top 3 Signs of Animals in Your HVAC System
If you notice these signs, you may need HVAC animal removal from a professional exterminator.
1. Sounds
One of the first things you may notice is animal noises coming from the air duct. If you hear any of these sounds coming from your ceiling or walls while lying in bed at night, it’s best to do some investigating the next day:
- Scratching
- Scurrying
- Chewing
- Chirping
- Rustling
2. Smells
When animals are living in your ductwork, that means they are also relieving themselves in your ductwork. Fecal droppings and urine both smell, and that smell will be carried out throughout your ductwork and property thanks to your furnace or air conditioner. Unfortunately, you may also notice an even worse odor if an animal dies in your ductwork or walls.
3. Sights
If you’re doing a visual check for animals in your vent and property, look for signs like these:
- Holes and gnaw marks: It does not take much for animals to make their way into your home or business. Even the smallest of holes located around your property can be entry points. If you notice holes or bites along your ductwork, foundation, roofline, utility line openings, or doors and windows, contact an exterminator.
- Debris around your property: You might notice bits of chewed insulation, fur, feathers, droppings, food or nest materials around your property or in your ductwork.
- Stains: Check the walls, your ceilings, and ducts for various stains or smudges. Some pests can cause dirt or grease marks when they move throughout your property.
What to Do if You Have an Animal in Your HVAC Ducts
Call a professional exterminator immediately if you suspect you have animals in your HVAC system. A professional can inspect your property, humanely remove the animal and seal any entry points so it doesn’t come back. You shouldn’t take on pest removal yourself — there’s a risk of being bitten or causing damage to your property that a professional would know how to avoid.
FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical does not offer exterminator or animal removal services, but we can step in after pest removal is complete. We can take a look at your heating, cooling and electrical systems to see if any replacements are needed. If animals damaged your ductwork or chewed electrical wiring, our technicians are here to restore your property and your peace of mind.
Contact FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical for Ductwork Services
We’re the Detroit area’s commercial and residential HVAC, plumbing and electrical experts. We’ve been in the business since 1949, offering reliable services with a large team of technicians and a fleet of over 90 vehicles. If pests have been removed from your home or business, FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical for Ductwork Services can address any necessary repairs and replacements. Contact us to schedule service!
Last Updated on October 10, 2025 at 1:10PM EST
