Rodents in the Ducts in Boston, MA: What to Do Before Turning the System On

If you're hearing scratching from your vents in Boston, do not turn the system on. Running the blower will pulverize droppings and blow hantavirus- and salmonella-carrying particulate into every room in the house. Here's the correct sequence.

Step 1: Camera scope, no fans running

We start every Boston rodent removal with a camera-scope survey of the trunk and every accessible branch to locate nests, droppings, and any carcasses.

Step 2: Physical removal with containment

• Full negative-air containment at the return
• HEPA vacuum extraction of all droppings and nesting material
• Removal of any carcasses (biohazard-bagged)
• Photo documentation of every access point

Step 3: Antimicrobial sanitization

Rodent contamination requires EPA-registered antimicrobial application — not deodorizer, not "fresh scent" fog. This step is what makes the system safe to run again.

Step 4: Entry-point sealing

This is what separates a permanent fix from a repeat visit. In Boston we commonly find rodent access at:

• Rooftop RTU curbs and gaskets (very common in the Northeast)
• Dryer vent hoods with broken flappers
• Basement rim joists where duct chases exit
• Uninsulated flex-duct sections chewed through by mice

We seal with hardware cloth, foam-and-mesh, and metal flashing — not spray foam alone (rodents chew right through it).

Fair Boston pricing

• Light contamination, single access point: $450–$800
• Moderate with sanitization and 2–3 seal points: $800–$1,500
• Heavy contamination with duct section replacement: $1,500–$4,000

What comes after

Most Boston homes with confirmed rodent activity also need full air duct cleaning and often duct sanitization to remove residual odor and particulate. See Boston coverage for same-week dispatch.