If you live in the Sacramento area, you know all too well how persistent rodents can be. These little critters are always looking for a way into your home, and one of their favorite entry points is through ducts. Unfortunately, once they find their way inside, they can cause significant damage that can affect your HVAC system’s performance and your wallet. Let’s dive into why rodent damage to home ducts is so problematic.

Rodents Can Damage Your Ducts and Wiring

Rodents love chewing on wires and other materials found in HVAC systems—and that includes ductwork. Chewed-up insulation not only ruins the energy efficiency of your system but also poses a fire hazard if any exposed wiring sparks or shorts out. Not only that, but these pesky critters may also build nests in your ducts, which block airflow and reduce the efficiency of your heating and cooling system even more.

The Cost of Rodent Damage

If you suspect rodent damage, it’s important to call an HVAC professional right away to inspect the system and fix any problems as soon as possible. The cost of repairing rodent damage depends on the extent of the damage done to your ducts. While some repairs may only cost a few hundred dollars, others may require more extensive replacement work costing thousands of dollars or more. Additionally, if left unaddressed for too long, entire systems may need to be replaced due to irreparable damage done by these unwelcome pests.

Preventing Rodent Intrusion

Your best bet is to take preventive steps before rodents become an issue in order to avoid costly repairs down the line. Start by sealing up any gaps or holes where rodents might enter your home; caulking around windowsills, door frames, plumbing pipes and vents is a good start. You should also ensure that trees are trimmed regularly so that branches don’t come close enough for rats or squirrels to make their way inside through openings near rooflines or eaves at least six feet from any openings into the house itself. Finally, keep garbage cans tightly sealed and yard debris cleaned up regularly as this will help deter rodents from coming anywhere near your home in search of food sources in the first place.

Rodent damage is a serious problem for homeowners in the Sacramento area due to our warm climate which encourages rodents like mice and rats to seek shelter indoors during cold winter months when temperatures drop outside. Taking preventive measures like sealing up holes around windowsills and doors can go a long way toward keeping these unwelcome guests out of your HVAC and duct system altogether—but if any do manage to get inside despite those precautions being taken then it’s important to call an HVAC professional right away before further damage occurs! Doing so could save you thousands of dollars down the line!

If your HVAC is not performing optimally, contact Love and Care Heating and Air LLC today. The experienced team of service professionals at Love and Care specialize in servicing and installing residential heating and air systems in the Greater Sacramento area and the surrounding cities such as Elk Grove and Placerville. For more information call 916.926.0312.