Finding a deceased mouse, rat, or other small animal in an air duct is a distressing situation that many homeowners may have to confront. Although the task of removing the animal from the duct and cleaning the area is unpleasant, it is possible to completely clean the area and eliminate the unpleasant odor.

Locating the source of an odor in your home.

The odor of a decomposing animal is often the first indication of its presence in a home. The smell can be strong and lead homeowners to believe it is in the ductwork, when it could be in the attic, basement, or crawlspace. To locate the source of a deceased rodent in the vents, you will need to follow your sense of smell. It may lead you directly to a specific HVAC vent in your home. If so, carefully remove the vent cover and use a flashlight to look inside. If the animal is visible, you can proceed to remove it.

However, if the smell is present but the source cannot be found, it may be necessary to seek professional help to locate and remove the animal.

Removing the deceased animal

Once the animal is located, it is important to handle it with care. You will need a garbage bag, rubber gloves, paper towels, and disinfectant spray as a minimum. Additional tools may be needed if the animal is not easily accessible. You can use a long hose attachment on a vacuum cleaner or a bent coat hanger as long as it allows you to bring the deceased rodent within reach.

Use a gloved hand to place the animal in a plastic bag and dispose of it immediately. Consult your local waste disposal authorities for guidelines on the disposal of deceased animals.

After the source of the smell is removed, thoroughly clean all areas that came in contact with the dead rodent using disinfectant spray. This may be challenging if the animal was initially out of reach, but a small mop can be used to clean the area.

Seal the Ductwork Leak

After removing the animal and cleaning the area, it's important to take further actions to prevent future incidents. Inspecting the system and ductwork can reveal entry points for the animal and potential duct leaks that affect energy efficiency. If a system tune-up is not imminent, consider scheduling an inspection of the vents.

Additionally, professional duct cleaning can effectively remove any lingering odors and bacteria/viruses left by the animal.