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Gretchen - I've found American cockroaches and brown recluse spiders love sub-surface floor pipe chases as highways and nesting areas respectively in old buildings. Tom Parker -----Original Message----- From: Anderson, Gretchen <[email protected]> To: pestlist <[email protected]> Sent: Thu, Feb 9, 2012 9:50 am Subject: RE: [pestlist] pests in HVAC filters This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hi Derya, Like Patty I am a little daunted at the prospect of checking all of our filters (big complicated building). At a previous institution I worked we did check the bottom of the outside air intakes – this only showed what was being drawn into the stack (and building). We discussed putting screens on the intakes, but I am not sure that happened. It might have constricted the air flow – the discussion took place 10 years ago, so I am a little vague on the results. If your filters are in place and your HVAC is in good shape (no unanticipated holes in the ducts) the filters should be blocking egress. If the filters are changed on a schedule then there should be little organic matter to become the source of an infestation. Our main problem is with electrical and plumbing traces. This is an old building, with a lot of unidentified conduits to be used as insect and rodent highways throughout. There are also plenty of holes in the building. Using a proactive pest management company has made a significant difference in our insect levels. One of the things that the technician does is identify hotspots and breeding grounds such as standing water at the bottom of elevator shafts or in the attics. By addressing these issues and keeping in close contact with our Facilities staff on the repairs to the building has made a huge difference in reduction of pests and in understanding why the pests are present. I sent this discussion to our entomologist and will post his reply. Gretchen Anderson Conservator Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Silence, Patricia Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 8:58 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [pestlist] pests in HVAC filters Hi Derya, We have been advised to do this, and find it a bit daunting, as well. The compelling particulars included finding adult powder-post type critters, who fly away as they emerge . Given a large collection of architectural fragments inspection is nearly impossible to find new-looking holes. We are skeptical that the adults would come across a stumble trap. I don’t think Ryan has found a lot of time to do this and our filter-changing schedule covers dozens of sites – and is managed by a team that doesn’t have a simple or direct way of telling us that dirty filters are ready to look at and then get hauled to the dumpster – clearly we don’t have a place to leave them sitting around. I would love to get an entomologist’s thoughts on this. Patty From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of derya gölpinar Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 3:56 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [pestlist] pests in HVAC filters This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hi Everybody, I was wondering if any of you check your HVAC filters for pests. The idea has come up - when our pest control vendor mentioned that insects can travel through HVAC systems and get from one part of the museum to another. Does checking the filters give us a random sample of what might be around the museum? Or is it overkill to look at these? Have any of you actually done this? Our facilities staff gave me a used filter to look at today and it is pretty large, I couldn't really think of a practical way to check them for insects without having it take up a lot of my time. best, Derya Assistant Registrar Rubin Museum of Art ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this list send an email to [email protected] and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. 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To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to [email protected] with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email [email protected] or [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this list send an email to [email protected] and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to [email protected] with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email [email protected] or [email protected]
