Most people are delighted when they find a bird nest near their home, but things are a little more complicated than that. They are indeed cute, but as it turns out, they can become dangerous for a home and for the people in it. Today we are going to find out more about bird removal from vent, how much does it cost you and how to prevent it in the future.
What’s the Bird Removal From Vent Procedure?
Usually, you might stumble upon a bird in vent in spring. This is the time when the birds (mostly European starlings) set up their nests in vent pipes. They do this because it’s a good place for a nest, being dry and secluded. However, it’s not at all a good thing for people, since birds can carry lots of parasites and present other dangers, such as diseases.
In general, it is better to call for specialized help in this matter. There are lots of wildlife removal professionals who know how to deal with it. Keep in mind that some parasites can only be treated with special chemicals from pest control companies. However, if you want to do it yourself, here you have some basic steps for removing birds from vent.
Step 1. Determine what kind of bird you have there
It’s important to know what bird nested in your vent. Get some information about it: what kind of behavior does it have, what does it eat etc. Then, assess the state of the establishment in your vent. If you are in the beginning of spring, then most likely the bird is not too established. As such, it’s easier to deal with it earlier.
Step 2. How Big Is the Nest?
You need to assess for how long was the bird inside the pipe. See how much nesting has she done and how much debris exists in the vent. For this, you need a fiber optic scope that costs around $200 and can be found at any big lumber store.
Step 3. Buy a “Fish”
The fish is a tool that can help you remove the nesting, as well as other obstructions that may exist in your vent. You can find it in the electrical section at a big box store around you for $40. Take the fish in and out of the pipe until you clear out all the debris. If you want to remove the nesting faster, you can even turn on the fan. However, pay attention! The fan can make the nest dislodge quickly and it might blow into your eyes.
Step 4. Disinfect
After all the debris and the nesting are out, it’s time to disinfect. Never skip this part of the process because it’s extremely important. Why is it important? Birds can carry a parasite (a bird mite) which can infest your home from the bathroom areas, for example. For this reason, a special chemical is needed to disinfect and protect your home against the mite. The chemical is available only for companies that have a special license, which is yet another reason to call for specialized help.
These are just some basic steps that can be followed if you want to do it yourself. However, if you decide to do it yourself it might cost you more than you would pay to a company. Here you have some more explanations on bird removal:
How Much Does Professional Bird Removal Cost?
If you want to have a specialized company perform a bird removal from vent procedure, then you should be prepared to pay. Right from the start, you must know that prices can vary a lot, depending on your needs and home. Here you have some numbers as a standard:
- Removing one bird from a residential home – $200
- Taking away a nest of birds from an attic, plus repairs – $500
- Removing one bird from a grocery store – $700
- Removing a hawk from a warehouse – $900
- Installing 100 feet of spikes for birds on a building sign – $1000
- Installing some exclusion netting for a gas station roof – $2000
The catch with the prices is that there are lots of variables that can affect the final cost of a bird removal from vent. The size of the building, the height, the complexity of the place, other deterrents (shock tracks, needle strips or netting), the number of birds and other factors can influence the cost a great deal. The best thing is to call a professional bird removal service and ask for a price estimate.
How to Keep Birds Out of Your Vents?
The best way to deal with bird removal from vent is… to prevent it. Most people take some prevention measures after they dealt with such a situation for the first time. However, you don’t have to wait until you find a bird in vent to think about keeping them out. So, how can you do it?
One of the simplest ways to keep your vents clean is to seal the exits. There are some special vent covers that can be opened and closed to let the air out. Professional companies can offer you special netting if you want to keep birds at bay. Alternatively, you can also use some hardware cloth, which is a galvanized wire mesh. It measures ½ in x ½ in and it can be placed in square openings. It is available at the local hardware or the big box building stores.
Conclusion
A bird removal procedure is not as easy as it seems. You can do it yourself by following the steps above or you can call a professional company. It is important to remove it completely and safely because birds can be a true hazard for your home and family. They can bring pests and diseases that infiltrate in your vent, so you can inhale them. Moreover, in the event of a fire, they block the vents, possibly leading to real tragedies. For this reason, make sure you take all the necessary measures to keep your vents clean and safe, and this includes taking prevention steps.
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