For the past two winters, I have noticed that mice are nesting in one of my return air vents. I don't have central air conditioning so I don't know where the vent goes out? The mice can be heard in the basement up to my 2nd floor bedroom return air vent. Apparently, they can't or don't come inside the house because I have never seen not one dropping inside my house and I have set traps but nothing. How can I find out how they are getting in? And why in this area? I have sealed up all noticeable holes around the inside and outside of the house and low and behold they come back to that same area. This puzzles me to no end, they are just in that one area. There must be a way they get in from the outside. My house is 78 years old and I don't even know where my return air vents goes out to. Help?
2007-02-20 06:08:57 · 4 answers · asked by Cookie 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
In many older homes return, and sometime supply, vents were "panned" which is basically saying that they used the floor joist or wall frames to make paths for the air to travel in.
Because these Pans are interconnected throughout your home, the entry point for the mice can be anywhere.
Today's codes while still allowing panning in certain circumstances, they require the panned bay to be ducted. This not only cuts down on your house guests but also some of the nasties that find the environment in an unlined panned joist a beautiful breeding ground.
Spring time comes around, consider having a professional duct cleaner work on your home. Many, using newer technology can actually send small remote cameras through the system identifying blockages, unwanted openings (Or were you intending on heating the attic with that duct?), and other potential issues.
2007-02-20 11:30:22 · answer #1 · answered by functionalanarchist 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how they got in (they are tricky little things, like a magician), but maybe you should try those gizmos that emit a high frequency sound that drives the little critters away. You can probably find them at your local home improvement store. But make sure you read the precaution label because I don't think that they are safe for cats, rabbits, hamsters, Guinea pigs or other small pets.
2007-02-20 07:00:57 · answer #2 · answered by Tink 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lots is going to count number on the age of your place, how properly it incredibly is insulated, the floor plan and your funds. i'm thinking in the experience that your downstairs thermostat is extremely controlling the upstairs heating unit and the upstairs thermostat is controlling the downstairs heating unit? One situation I see on your posting is the return air duct on your mattress room. it is going to under no circumstances be in a room like that yet in an substantial area. Did you alter the function of that room? Did you're making it a downstairs mattress room incredibly of leaving it as a sitting room? Are you getting solid air bypass? Is the air quantity extreme and sufficient? I had a in part disconnected duct in my attic. i become pumping lots of my AC air into the attic. devoid of extremely seeing the interior your place and the floor plan, i don't comprehend if circulating followers can circulate a number of that warmer upstairs air to the downstairs rooms. you will in all threat could hire an expert HVAC individual to truly inspect the subject. do no longer hire an AC provider tech - they do no longer in all threat comprehend the engineering in touch in HVAC distribution structures.
2016-09-29 09:23:24 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those little critters can get in anywhere.
2007-02-20 06:17:47 · answer #4 · answered by shorty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋