Rodent Damage 101: Protecting Pipes, Wires, And Insulation From Pests

What are rodents?

Taking an entire section to explain what rodents are may seem silly, but understanding these pests is essential to understanding why they’re so destructive. We are all familiar (although hopefully not too familiar!) with mice and rats. These two are the most common house-infesting rodents around. 

Mice are small rodents that grow to about four inches in length. They have brownish-gray fur, and some have lighter underbellies. Rats are larger than mice, growing to around nine inches. Their fur is often gray, brown, or black, and they are known for their scaly tails.

If you’ve ever looked at a beaver’s teeth, you’ve probably noticed how long their front teeth are. These teeth are so long because beavers are rodents, and their teeth never stop growing. That’s also why beavers are so good at cutting down trees!

The thing that many people don’t know about rodents as a whole is that they have teeth that never stop growing. All rodents, not just beavers, have incisors that grow throughout their lives. Rodents must wear their teeth down continually so they don’t become an impediment. 

Once you know that rodents’ teeth never stop growing, it becomes much easier to understand precisely why these pests are so destructive. They have a very real need to chew so that their teeth stay at a manageable length. Unfortunately, when rodents get into houses, this need ends up costing homeowners a significant amount of money and frustration. 

What do mice and rats damage?

Almost anything can become damaged as a result of a rodent infestation. Personal property, such as clothing, books, and other belongings, will likely sustain damage if rodents enter your house, especially if these items are in storage areas. However, these things are the least of your worries regarding rodent destruction.

Electrical wires are one of the main things rodents destroy when they enter homes. In a best-case scenario, they may simply ruin a computer cord or make some other piece of electronic equipment stop working. In a worst-case scenario, they will chew through wires that help keep your house running. Not only will this cause costly damage, but it can also be a fire hazard.

Rodents also commonly damage plumbing systems. Not only do they find it easy to chew on PVC pipes, but they may do so to find a water source. If they get through the pipes, property owners will have water damage to take care of in addition to fixing their leaking pipes.

Rodents will also damage insulation when they get into houses. They may take pieces of it to use as nesting materials, but they may also nest right in the insulation. The trouble with this is that they’ll leave their urine and droppings on the insulation and create areas where the insulation is either thin or missing entirely. Damaged or missing insulation cannot work correctly, leading to a less efficient home and potentially higher energy bills.

How to prevent rodent damage

Stopping rodents from damaging your home requires you to stop rodents from getting into your home. Once inside, they’ll have to chew on something, and it’s next to impossible to prevent them from not chewing on essential items in your house. The best way to prevent rodent damage is to avoid rodent infestations. Do this by:

• Keeping your yard free of debris.
• Maintaining your grass, trees, and shrubs so they stay trimmed and don’t touch your house.
• Moving outdoor garbage bins away from your house and ensuring they have tightly-fitting lids.
• Removing outdoor food sources, like pet food or bird seed.
• Eliminating areas of standing water and addressing moisture issues, such as leaking pipes or dripping faucets.
• Sealing all entry points into your house, no matter how small, including holes, cracks, and gaps.
• Keeping all food stored in sealed containers.
• Keeping your kitchen clean and free of spills, messes, and food particles.
• Removing clutter from your house.
• Organizing the garage.
• Hauling away old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard boxes.

By making it difficult for rodents to get into your house and removing the food, water, and shelter sources they’re looking for when they get onto your property, you can help reduce the likelihood that rodents will damage your pipes, wires, and insulation.

Why professional rodent control works

For more complete peace of mind, professional rodent control is the best choice to keep your home rodent-free. At Getem Services, we offer rodent inspections, rodent control solutions, and exclusion services. Whether you need help eliminating an active rodent problem or want to ensure you never have to deal with rodents destroying your home, Getem Services can help. As a local pest control company serving Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and all of Hampton Roads for over 100 years, you can trust us to protect your home from damaging rodents. Contact us today.