Your extractor fan doesn't work or your bathroom smells bad? The problem... is the nests

Spring arrives in Murcia, Cartagena and Alicante, bringing with it a problem that many residents don't see coming: the nesting season. Between March and June, birds such as swifts, sparrows or pigeons seek shelter in the most unexpected places, especially in the ventilation ducts and smoke outlets of our homes.

The chaos of "shunts" in residential buildings

If you have noticed that your kitchen extractor fan no longer draws air as it used to, don't rush out to buy a new one. In most of the cases we handle at Control de Plagas Levante, the problem is not mechanical: a nest is blocking the external outlet or, worse, has jammed the appliance's turbine after falling through the duct.

In cities with apartment blocks, such as Molina de Segura, Lorca or Torrevieja, ventilation ducts —or shunts— are usually shared. When a bird nests at the top of the vertical shaft, disaster is on the way for the entire building:

• Cross odours: You start to smell what your downstairs neighbour is cooking because the air has no way out.
• Humidity and poor ventilation: Bathrooms stop ventilating properly, generating condensation and persistent bad odours

An invisible danger: Nest lice

Here is a fact that many people are unaware of and that is usually the reason for the most urgent calls we receive: nests do not come alone. Birds typically carry parasites, mainly lice and mites.

When the chicks leave the nest, these parasites are left without a food source and travel down through the ventilation ducts until they appear in bathrooms or on kitchen worktops.

This is not just a matter of obstruction: it is an environmental health problem that requires immediate professional action.

Chimneys and smoke "backdraft" in winter

Although we may be thinking about the heat right now, the problem develops in summer. If you have a wood-burning fireplace and leave it unused for months, birds take advantage of the quiet to settle in.

When the first cold weather arrives and you light the fire, the smoke doesn't come out: it backdrafts into the living room and the frustration is complete. A nest removed in time prevents a nasty surprise at the worst possible moment.

Professional solutions in Levante.

To resolve these blockages in a safe and legal way, at Control de Plagas Levante we work hand in hand with our main partner, Tu Deshollinador.

We have the technical equipment needed to clean ducts, remove nests and disinfect the affected areas throughout the Region of Murcia and the province of Alicante.

If you suspect you have "tenants" in your smoke outlet, or have started to see strange bugs near the ventilation grilles, don't wait for the problem to get worse. Contact us today and let the experts make sure your home can breathe again.