Why the fixture is the giveaway
A ceiling fan or light is mounted on an electrical box that is open to the joist bay above. Warm air rising through the room and into that box carries odor down when the air reverses, and flies following the smell find their way out around the canopy. Mice travel along joists and wiring, and in top-floor rooms, squirrels and birds from the attic can end up there too.
In a home with a floor above, the bay may be under a bathroom or laundry room, where plumbing penetrations give rodents a route. In a top-floor room, the space above is the attic, which is usually easier to reach.
Checking the fixture safely
- Turn the circuit off at the breaker.Switching off at the wall is not enough when you will be touching the fixture.
- Lower the canopy.Loosen the canopy screws and let it drop a little. Shine a light into the box and around its edges.
- Look and sniff.Droppings, nesting material or a strong surge of odor at the box confirm the bay.
- Decide on access.If the attic is above, search that bay from there. If a floor is above, a small access cut next to the fixture is often the smallest repair.
Top floor versus a floor above
Attic above
- Search from the attic, along that joist bay
- Insulation near the spot may need replacing
- No ceiling cut needed in most cases
Another floor above
- Bay is enclosed between ceiling and floor
- Access through a small ceiling cut beside the box
- Patch and repaint afterward
After removal
Once the animal is out, the inside of the fixture box and the top of the drywall around it may need cleaning, and any insulation in the bay that is stained should be replaced. If the drywall shows a stain from below, let it dry, seal it with a stain-blocking primer and repaint. Before rehanging the fan or light, check that the wiring insulation is intact, since mice often chew it, and that the box is still firmly fastened.
A small access cut beside the fixture box can be patched neatly and is often hidden by the fixture canopy.
Common questions
Can I just run the fan to clear the smell?
Running the fan moves odor around the room but does nothing about the source above. Keep it off until the bay has been checked.
General information for Sloan's Lake, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.