How To Rat Proof Your Home
Rat proofing your home begins with knowing why rats want to get into your home in the first place. Rats are seeking food, a warm place to escape from the cold and are always exploring their surroundings.
The problem is rats carry diseases, chew everything in site, destroy wiring creating fire hazards and create other property damage. We will help guide you in understanding rat behavior and how to protect your property from these pests.
A look at rat behavior
Most rats establish a nest within a structure or burrow under ground a few feet to live never venturing more then a 150 foot radius from their shelter looking for food. Night time is when they are most active but some rats have no problem being seen during the daylight hours.
They can climb very good and will chew through just about anything. Rats are pros at finding ways into you home and can squeeze through a crack the height of a dime.
Areas a rat can enter your home
Rats can enter your home through gaps at the bottom of your automatic garage door, holes around vent pipes and drains.
A rat can also enter from foundation vents, where service lines connect to siding, and uncovered attic vents.
Clues that you may have a rat
Rats leave evidence when they enter your home. Droppings dark in color shaped like grains of rice can be found along baseboards and in cabinets. Greasy smudge marks along walls is another clue. Rats will also bite on wooden baseboards and cabinet doors.
In your garage they will leave holes in boxes, debris in piles and destroy insulation.
Inspecting the outside of your home
There are signs to look for outside of your home too. Inspect along the foundation of your home. Look for damaged vent screens, holes dug in the ground or large cracks in concrete. A rat will leave droppings along the foundation and greasy smudges just like inside.
Check where plumbing and wiring enter the structure. Rats will gnaw on siding and dig along the foundation looking for entry. Take note of any areas you find so they can be repaired.
Stopping rats from entering your home
Stopping rats from entering begins on the outside of your home. Rats can chew through just about anything so the materials you use need to be tough.
Forget rubber or plastic seals they are useless. Metal is the best deterrent for blocking rats. Copper or metal mesh, metal flashing and hard patching compounds are the way to go.
Rodent proofing repairs
When you spot cracks or holes in your foundation stuff them with coarse steel wool. You can also coat the steel wool with mortar and let that harden.
Flexible metal flashing can be used in gaps between the exterior wall siding and the concrete foundation of your house. A combination of adhesive and screws can be used to secure the flashing as needed..
Securing and repairing foundation vents
If you have anything other then metal screened foundation vents get metal vent covers and install over the old vents. Rats do not move out in the open they move along the base of foundations so damaged vents or vents with holes in them are easily mastered by rats.
Holes in walls for plumbing, air conditioner condensation lines, dryer vents and gas lines need to be gap free. Metal collars, screens and plates are available from your local hardware store to accomplish this.
Trash control and yard cleanup
Rats love to go through the trash. Make sure all garbage cans have lids. Throw out the garbage in your house daily and keep your garbage cans away from entry doors. Garage door seals need to have no gaps.
In the yard any trees that produce fruit are an attraction for rats. Harvest these trees on time and pickup dropped fruit from the ground daily.
Gardens are another attraction. Rat proof them with metal screens, chicken wire, copper mesh or other products on the market to deter rats.
Following this guide and maintaining the interior and exterior of your home will minimize rat populations on your property.