Homeowners advised to take immediate precautions against rat infestation if a pen fits in their property's cracks, according to a pest professional.
Preventing Rat Infestation in Your Home: A Comprehensive Guide
Homeowners are advised to conduct a thorough inspection of their property to identify and seal common rat access points, preventing infestation and potential damage.
Start with a close examination of small gaps and openings that rats can exploit. These may include attic vents, roof vents and edges, crawl spaces, foundation cracks, damaged doors and windows, fascia boards and soffits with wood rot, chimneys without caps, and tree branches touching the roof. Use a flashlight to inspect darker or less visible spots like crawl spaces, vents, and foundation cracks. Inside attics or basements, look for signs of rodent presence such as nesting materials, droppings, or disturbed insulation [1].
Inspect exterior elements such as damaged screens, weather stripping, and gaps around plumbing, electrical, and gas line entries. Common entry points like these can allow rats to slip into walls and under floors with ease [4].
To effectively seal these points, use door sweeps to close gaps under exterior doors, weather stripping around doors and windows, high-quality sealants for cracks and holes in foundations and siding, vent covers to block animals from entering vents or ducts, pipe caps on exposed or unused pipes, chimney caps to prevent entry from open chimneys, and copper mesh in larger holes, as it resists rodent gnawing [2][4].
Additionally, keep tree branches and shrubs trimmed away from the house to reduce animal bridges, and remove outdoor attractants such as unsecured trash, pet food, fallen fruit, and water sources to discourage rats from approaching the home [3].
Following this comprehensive identification and sealing strategy is an eco-friendly, long-lasting approach that prevents rodent entry before infestations occur and protects your property from damage [2].
For more information on pest-proofing your home, refer to Tom's Guide on Google News, which provides up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews. John Stewart, technical training manager at Pest-Stop, also recommends homeowners protect themselves from rodents [5].
Remember, prevention is more humane and saves the home from contamination and germs. Evicting rats from a home is more challenging than preventing their entry [6].
Sources:
- Rodent-Proofing Your Home - Tom's Hardware
- How to Keep Rats Out of Your Home - Pest-Stop
- 10 Ways to Keep Rats Away from Your Home - National Pest Management Association
- How to Keep Mice Out of Your Home - National Pest Management Association
- Interview with John Stewart, Technical Training Manager at Pest-Stop - Pest-Stop
- Rat Eviction vs. Rat Prevention: Which is Better? - National Pest Management Association
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