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Mouse condo with central AC
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PAPI
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:52 pm    Post subject: Mouse condo with central AC Reply with quote

I recently ran some new speaker wire to the rear deck. Had to drop the headliner, and discovered some sunflower seeds and mouse poop. No big surprise, really. Well- I was investigating a rattling AC fan in the rear deck, and in the process, stirred up an old mouse nest. It looked like a freakin' ticker-tape parade inside the van. The fan was blowing stuff out like a wood chipper. So- I've vacuumed, picked out a bunch of stuff (tissue paper, insulation, string, etc.) with my handy giant tweezers, but there's still more in there. Is there an easy way to remove the housing around the squirrel cage fan?
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Mmartinphd
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You are probably going to have to drop the whole thing to get it suitably cleaned out. I did it last fall and it was a fun afternoon. The Bentley has step-by-step instructions on how to do it.

BTW, I now throw some Fresh Cab in there and have not had a mouse since. We change it out every few months. Get is from Amazon.

Why do mice love that spot???
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Steve M.
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 7:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mmartinphd wrote:

Why do mice love that spot???


because the residence comes with a free gym...their working out on the squirrel cage!
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furrylittleotter
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Find an ac repairman with a nitrogen tank. Hook an air gun to it with a hose and set the regulator to 400psi. Put on goggles. Turn blower on high and blast away with the nitrogen into every nook and cranny. Whatever is in there will come out I guarantee you.

Neil2
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PAPI
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks- why compressed n2? I know it's a bit of a hack, but I'm contemplating using a dremel to cut an access door in the plastic plenum. All the debris is on one side- I really don't want to drop the whole unit.
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Terry Kay
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 5:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One question;

If you know it's a hack job, why even do it?

You'll never get all of the garbage outa there with just an inspection port.

Drop the evaporator portion of the unit, and blow it out good.
I'd skip the nitrogen and just use compressed air--work just as good.
Be sure to blow out the coils of the evaporator good--along with the vanes of the fans, before you button it back up---
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Ahwahnee
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was cleaning out a nest on one my other old car acquisitions when I reached in and got this...

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Yeah, I screamed like a little girl.

I have to agree that dropping the unit for a thorough cleaning and treatment with Febreeze is the way to settle this once and for all.
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furrylittleotter
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I mentioned the nitrogen because of the higher pressures the tank and regulator allow. My tanks come with about 2000 psi and I regularly test ac systems with 400 psi. Most air compressors do not run that kind of pressure and are not nearly "just as good" at dislodging foreign material from air conditioning systems.

We bore holes in ducts for air testing all the time, just make sure you aren't boring into a drain pan, hose, wire, or coil and put a plug in it when you are done.

I meant to be suggestive. If you would rather spend a day dropping a brittle old Van ac, knock yourself out. My suggestion would take less than a minute.

Onward and upward.

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markz2004
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ahwahnee wrote:


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Yeah, I screamed like a little girl.



Did the mouse wake up when you screamed? Laughing
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Terry Kay
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

To bring a little more light into this exersize, I know full well that just trying to blow the mouse crap outa that evaporator box may not get it all.

But OK , just for the sake of conversation here, lets say it does, & from any pressure supply you've got.

But wait a mimute----
There just happens to be another common problem up in that cabinet which you slid right past.
How about that condensation evaporative foam that covers the evaporator that's plugging up the fins on the evaporator?
You can huff & puff till you blow the house down externally, and you'll never get all of that out ---no way Jose from the outside.

Drop the box, get the rat shit outa there, clean up the old broken up foam off of the evaporator coils, & you'll more than likely find that your AC unit will be blowing more cold air forward than it ever has before.
The foam rubber issue is a known AC problem and should
be addressed.
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Gauche1968
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Speak to the hand

Wear a mask and gloves and spray everything in sight with disinfectant, then wait at least an hour before trying to clean anything up.

Hanta virus is rare, but potentially deadly.
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Terry Kay
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Leptospirosis is a real possibility if you inhale any of the rat debris.

Bad stuff.

Do wear a mask.
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RCB
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yikes.....don't forget safety glasses.
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