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Common Roof Rodents and How to Keep Them Out of Your Attic

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Rodent Cleanup, rodent control, Rodents in Attic.

Attic pests are a common nuisance for homeowners all over the country. Roof rats in particular make their way into homes, cause damage and pose health risks to you,  your family and your pets. Read for more information about roof rats, their habits, and most importantly,  what you should do if you suspect you have an infestation in your home.

What are common attic pests? 

Because attics are spaces that are generally not lived in that we use mainly to regulate home temperature and in some cases for storage (which we don’t recommend), it can often act as a perfect environment for unwanted pests to thrive. Some common pests that can plague your attic area are bats, squirrels, racoons, cluster flies, and our least favorite – rodents. Common rodents that will try to call your attic home are house mice, Norway rats, and roof rats. Roof rats are a particular nuisance that can infest homes and cause headaches for many homeowners. 

What does a roof rat look like?

Because they are so common in the United States, it is important to know what roof rats look like so you can easily identify them should you have an encounter of the rodent kind. These animals are about 40 centimeters long and weigh between 5-9 ounces, but can sometimes weigh as much as 12 ounces. Their bodies are long and thin, and feature large eyes, ears, and a pointed nose. Roof rats’ tails are scaly and actually longer than their bodies. Their coloring is brown with an intermix of black and they often have white, gray and black undersides. 

What are the habits of roof rats? 

Roof rats are exceptionally talented climbers and prefer nesting in the upper part of buildings, which is why they are common attic pests. Here’s a fun fact: their ability to climb to great heights is how they acquired the name “roof rat”. 

These animals are primarily nocturnal and typically live in colonies preferring habitats that are covered to protect them from predators. When they shelter outside, they prefer dense vegetation like fruit trees, shrubbery, and can commonly be found in wood piles or storage boxes that are left outside. When they shelter inside, roof rats are able to enter through access points that are larger than a nickel and can be found in the upper parts of the home. If they get into your home, they are able to build nests out of materials like insulation.

In a not so fun fact: these rodents only live up to about a year, but are able to produce as many as 40 new offspring during their lifetime. If you have a roof rat infestation in your home, this can cause a nightmare scenario. 

What are common signs of roof rats? 

If you have roof rats in your home, there will be indications of their presence disrupting the tranquility of your home. The biggest signs of roof rats manifest in the form of noise, damage to elements in your home, and rodent droppings around the infected area.

Because they are nocturnal, roof rats will search for food at night and you will hear scurrying, squeaking and other out of the ordinary sounds coming from areas of your home. The presence of rats may also disturb any pets you have in your home, so if they begin acting strange while you are noticing some of the other signs you may have a rodent problem on your hands. 

Another very common but unfortunate sign of roof rats is damage to your home in the form of bite marks on your pipes or wires and tears to your insulation. The presence of roof rats can also contribute to mold growth and overall poor conditions in your attic. This can cause wood decay and damage to the HVAC system which is an expensive blow to your bank account. 

Are roof rats harmful?

We discussed the damage that roof rats can cause your home, but they can also harm your family’s health. Rats have become infamous for their role in causing the bubonic plague back in the day, giving us a healthy, reasonable fear of them. As their reputations indicate, they do carry diseases that are harmful to human beings. 

Some of the diseases that can result from a roof rat infestation include: toxoplasmosis, histoplasmosis, encephalitis, meningitis, salmonella, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and murine typus and leptospirosis. Additionally, when inhaled, rodent droppings and urine can cause sinus inflammation and asthma due to the allergens they contain. 

If you have a direct altercation with a rat in the form of a bite or scratch it can cause what is known as rat bite fever. This sickness can specifically cause fever, vomiting, sore throat, muscle pain, joint pain, and a rash. 

Because of how dangerous roof rats can be to your health, you should never attempt attic clean up and decontamination on your own. Only trained professionals in protective gear should handle the situation to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

What do I do if I have a roof rat infestation?  

If you think you have an infestation, you will want to eliminate the roof rats as soon as possible so they cause no further damage to your home or impact the health of your family. You should call a professional like Attic Construction immediately so an inspection can be completed. When it comes to rodent infestations, because of the damage they can cause and the health risks they pose, you should take a better safe than sorry approach to the situation.

If you do indeed have roof rats, rodent proofing and attic decontamination services are a solution to all of your pest woes. It removes the contaminated elements of the infected area and introduces solutions to prevent further infestations by sealing up entry points and eliminating odor. 

Something we do recommend to homeowners is to be proactive and look into rodent proofing services before an infestation erupts to avoid the headache and damage one can cause. 

What does the rodent decontamination process look like? 

Every case is different and professionals are able to tailor their services to meet the individual needs of each situation. However, there are common elements in rodent decontamination we use at Attic Construction that return your space to its pristine pre-infestation state. 

First, we remove any insulation that is contaminated with urine, droppings, or nest materials and safely dispose of it. Next, we remove any remaining rodent droppings with powerful commercial vacuuming equipment then disinfect the area to remove allergens, bacteria and parasites. These actions remove the hazards to your health that a rodent infestation poses.

Once everything has been decontaminated and disinfected, Rodent proofing is essential. After the decontamination has been completed, we go in and re-insulate the area by adding elements that will rodent proof the attic to prevent future rodent infestations. This three step process allows your home to return to the safe, peaceful, and relaxing environment that you deserve. 

 

5 Signs You Need Rodent Proofing in Orange County

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Rodent Cleanup. No Comments on 5 Signs You Need Rodent Proofing in Orange County

Rodent infestations spell big problems for homeowners, which is why you should consider proactively addressing any potential rodent infestation before it becomes established. Not only can rodents nest in your insulation, which will potentially impact the energy efficiency of your home, but a rodent infestation may also lead to poor air quality throughout your entire home. 

Understanding the signs that you need to rodent proof your home can help you recognize a rodent infestation early before extensive damage is caused. Rodents won’t go away on their own, so remediating an existing rodent infestation and rodent proofing your home should be a top priority if an infestation is suspected. 

Top Signs of a Rodent Problem

Aren’t sure if you need orange county, ca rodent proofing? Here are our top signs that you should call the professionals at Attic Construction:

#1. Sounds

If you hear movement in your walls or attic space, it can be a pretty good sign that you might have a rodent problem. Hearing rodents moving in your walls or attic space is usually an early sign of a rodent infestation. You may hear scurrying or scratching as they move through your walls and attic building a nest and foraging for food. Often these sounds are more obvious at night when the house is quiet and background noise is minimal. If you do find yourself hearing movement in your walls or attic space, don’t hesitate to have an inspection completed. Catching a rodent infestation early will help you minimize damage and reduce the cost of repairs.

#2. Smells

As rodents begin to become established in your attic you may begin to smell their presence. Rodent nests can become saturated with urine, feces, and even the bodies of rodents that have died. Though the smell of a rodent infestation may be very unpleasant, it can also be a key indicator that there’s a problem. The smell of a rodent infestation may be more obvious in hot weather as your attic spaces heat up, but it will probably be noticeable even during the cooler winter months. 

#3. Pets

Pets are a great early warning system for a rodent infestation. If you have a cat or dog who is paying very close attention to your walls or ceiling, the chances are high that they can hear or smell something that you can’t. Animals that detect rodents in your walls may appear agitated, aggressive, or concerned. Be mindful of these signs, but also don’t make the mistake of thinking your pet can deal with a rodent infestation on their own. Rodents have the potential to carry communicable diseases, so be sure to keep your pets safely in your home and let the professionals at Attic Construction deal with your rodent issue!

#4. Droppings

Rodents may be subtle but the presence of rodent droppings is a sure sign that it’s time to contact a professional to look at the issue. Rodent droppings are not only a sign that you may be dealing with an infestation. Those droppings can carry diseases, so keep pets away from them and wear protective equipment when disposing of the droppings.

#5. Damaged Boxes or Insulation

Many people that use their attic for storage may be surprised when they find damage to their boxes. Chewed or torn up boxes are a common sign of a rodent infestation because rodents love to use the cardboard for nesting material. The same is true of insulation. If your attic insulation is piled up, damaged, or disturbed, it may be a sign of a rodent infestation. If you see any of these odd signs in your attic space, be sure to schedule an inspection as soon as possible. 

#6. Rising Utility Costs

It might surprise you to hear that a sign you have a rodent problem is your utility bills going up. Though this isn’t usually one of the earliest signs of a rodent infestation, a rodent problem in your attic space may impact the effectiveness of your attic insulation. Attic insulation is an ideal nesting material for rodents. As it becomes saturated in rodent feces and urine, it becomes less effective at resisting the transfer of heat. The result is a home that is less efficient than it was before. Though the early signs of insulation damage on your utility bills may be subtle, it will increase over time as more insulation becomes compromised. 

Address the Issue Early

Dealing with a rodent infestation can be a pain, but it’s made worse if you don’t deal with it as soon as you notice a problem. Rodents typically won’t go away on their own, especially once a nest becomes established in your attic. Attics make an ideal location for rodents because they are warm, dry, safe from predators, and they have lots of nesting material available. 

Here are the top reasons why you should consider addressing a rodent issue early:

Unhealthy Air

Rodent infestations lead to poor air quality throughout your home, not just in your attic space. Something that many people don’t realize is the role that attics and crawl spaces play in circulating air throughout your home. Because of this critical role, poor air quality in either space will affect the air throughout your home. 

This is particularly problematic when the issue is a rodent infestation because rodent feces can contain potentially harmful diseases. If the feces dry and is disturbed, it can be spread through the air. This is also a reason why any materials contaminated with rodent feces or urine should only be cleaned up with proper protective equipment in place.

Rodent droppings can lead to a number of diseases, including:

  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Salmonella
  • Murine Typhus and Leptospirosis
  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
  • Meningitis
  • Histoplasmosis
  • Encephalitis.

Because of this, always leave the cleanup to the professionals at Attic Construction!

Compromised Insulation

The insulation in your attic is critical for maintaining the energy efficiency of your home. Attic insulation helps separate the conditioned spaces of your home from the unconditioned parts of your home. In doing so, it helps minimize the transfer of heat between conditioned and unconditioned spaces. In a properly insulated home, this translates to great energy efficiency and temperature stability. Properly insulated homes will stay cooler on hot days, and warmer on cold days because the insulation is preventing heat from being transferred.

Rodents love attic insulation because it makes a great nesting material. But, as insulation is disturbed, damaged, or compromised it becomes less effective at reducing the transfer of heat. The result is a home that is less energy efficient than it was before. So if you notice certain rooms that are warmer or colder than before, rising utility costs, or strong temperature fluctuations throughout the day in the conditioned spaces of your home, be sure to have your attic insulation inspected for damage.

Costly Repairs

Remediating a rodent infestation is less expensive if it is addressed early. If a rodent infestation is allowed to become established, the damage caused by the rodents will be higher. Rodent infestations can lead to all kinds of problems, including:

  • Damaged insulation
  • Chewed wiring
  • Urine soaked drywall, wood, or other building materials.

To clean up a rodent infestation you can’t simply soak everything in bleach. Once compromised some building materials must be replaced. This is often the case with drywall under nesting material or insulation that has been used as nesting material. 

In order to avoid costly and extensive repairs, be sure to be proactive if you suspect a rodent problem. Rodent infestations won’t go away on their own, so if you have any of the signs of rodents that we’ve described above don’t hesitate to contact Attic Construction for an inspection. Dealing with your rodent problem early will save you money down the road!

Why Rodent Proof?

If you have a rodent infestation two things must be completed to effectively deal with the problem. The first is that the route the rodents are using to get into your home needs to be closed up, which is referred to as rodent proofing. The second task is to remediate any damage caused by the existing rodent infestation.

Rodent proofing is critical if you want to permanently deal with a rodent problem. While removing nesting materials and clearing out contaminants from an existing rodent infestation can help improve the quality of the air in your home, if you don’t rodent proof then you’ll just have another infestation to deal with a short time later. The good news is that the experts at Attic Construction can help you with your rodent proofing in orange county!

Rodents are persistent and tenacious pests, which is why rodent proofing in orange county is so crucial. Effectively rodent proofing a home is no easy task, but it can be done with the right equipment and experience.  Even the smallest gap can be exploited by rodents and lead to a full-blown infestation, so it’s important that any rodent proofing is comprehensive. Our teams at Attic Construction have decades of experience rodent proofing homes in the Orange County area, so we know exactly what it takes to effectively rodent proof an attic space.

Closing Thoughts

Be mindful of the key signs that you may need rodent proofing in your home that we’ve outlined above. Rodent proofing is a necessary component of dealing with any rodent infestation, otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for repeated repairs and headaches.

If you suspect a rodent infestation in your attic, walls, or crawl spaces, don’t hesitate to call us to find the nearest Attic Construction location near you. No need to search “search for “insulation removal near me”! Rodent infestations won’t go away on their own, and they can lead to costly repairs and poor air quality. We also provide Orange County insulation installation and removal services to replace old rodent damaged insulation!

To learn about our rodent proofing services in the Orange County area, please contact us today.

Sources: 

  1. “Understanding Attic Venting”, https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-102-understanding-attic-ventilation
  2. “Measurement of Attic Temperatures and Cooling Energy Use in Vented and Sealed Attics in Las Vegas, Nevada”, https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-9701-measurement-of-attic-temperatures-and-cooling-energy-use-in-vented-and-sealed-attics-in-las-vegas-nevada/view
  3. “Keeping The Heat In – Chapter 5: Roofs and attics”, https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-homes/how-can-i-make-my-home-more-ener/keeping-heat/keeping-heat-chapter-5-roofs-and-attics/15637

 

Do You Need Attic Rodent Clean Up?

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Rodent Cleanup. No Comments on Do You Need Attic Rodent Clean Up?

Before doing any work on your attic, you will need to determine whether any common pests have already called the space ‘home’. Rodents are a common culprit in attics, but knowing whether you need rodent removal and decontamination services is not always straightforward While a professional inspection is certainly a helpful tool, there are also common signs you can look for to determine whether you need attic rodent proofing and clean up.

Why Is Rodent Clean-Up Necessary?

Even if you already know you have a rodent problem in your attic, you may be curious why clean up and restoration services are necessary. After all, there’s nothing up there besides dust and insulation – so why is it important to invest in rodent clean up?

Rodents pose serious health risks to people and animals. They can carry several diseases and parasites which can spread not only through direct contact, but also through their droppings and urine. Furthermore, if there is currently a rodent infestation in your attic or have a rodent proof attic, it’s important to remember that the pests could easily continue spreading to other areas of your home by using the vents as a crawl space.  Extermination and clean up will be much more difficult and expensive if you choose to wait until the problem spreads, resulting in more damage. Moreover, without a crawl space cleaning service, you may not even know the extent of the infestation’s damage.

Looking for Signs of Rodents

If you are going to look for rodents in your attic, it is important to prepare accordingly. Wear full-body protection including eye, nose, and mouth protection. Use a good flashlight when looking for signs of these critters in your attic. Don’t just look on the floor – check walls, rafters, insulation, ducts, and ceilings for signs of rodent activity.

A good inspection can determine whether rodents are present, the type of rodent, how severe the rodent problem is, how these animals are getting in, and why they are choosing to live in the attic. Though the process of clearing rodents from an attic space is very comprehensive and comes with a price, the benefits of rodent-proofing your attic will be well worth it. 

What to Look For

The following signs are what you will be looking for when you conduct an inspection of your attic for rodents. Remember, when it comes to restoration services, attic spaces are one of the most common areas to need attention. If you have an infestation, this is fairly common and can be addressed. Look for the following signs of rodent activity in your attic:

Droppings

Rodent droppings are one of the most common and easily identifiable indicators that rodents are present in your attic. If you know how to inspect droppings, you can tell what type of rodent left them, how bad the infestation is, and wherein the attic they are the most active.

Mice and rats, two of the most commonly found rodents in attics, leave very different droppings. Mouse feces are very small – usually less than one-quarter of an inch – and pointed on the ends. Rat feces are generally half of an inch or longer. Different species of rats leave differently shaped droppings – Norway Rats leave feces that are rounded at the ends, while Roof Rats’ droppings are pointed.

Fresh rodent droppings have a shine to them and are soft and similar to putty, texturally. Old droppings are hard, dry, and crumbly. Finding feces from the same species in various sizes is an indicator that both adults and young are present. Rodent feces clean up is a very important part of attic rodent clean up. If you find a lot of droppings, it’s time to call a professional and decontaminate the space.

Urine

Urine from rodents has a very strong smell and in larger infestations, it can be smelled easily. In rare cases, you may be able to spot fresh urine stains on wood and other surfaces.

Chewed Holes

Rodents commonly chew holes in the spaces they inhabit. Your electrical wires can be used as an indicator. Mouse holes tend to be about the size of a dime with clean edges, while rat holes are closer to a quarter, and rough around the edges. 

Nests

Rodent nests are one of the largest and easily seen signs of an infestation. Mice commonly rip up paper, even rodent-resistant insulation and other materials to create nests. Rats may behave similarly, and also commonly burrow in the ground or nest elsewhere in the attic.

Noise

You may know you have a rodent infestation in your attic because you can hear it. Rats and mice in the attic can often be audibly noticed scurrying around above you. Furthermore, you may hear rodents scurry away when you enter your attic to look for them.

Dog and Cat Behavior

Your furry friends might be the first to notice that you have a rodent infestation in your attic. Barking and pawing at areas where rodents are present are common behaviors. Depending on where the infestation is, your cat may even successfully catch rodents in the house.

If you notice any of the common signs of rodent activity in your attic listed above, contact one of our attic professionals at Attic Construction, today!

Sources: 

https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/cleaning/index.html

https://www.tomcatbrand.com/en-us/library/identifying-mice-rats/identifying-mouse-or-rat-problem-your-house

https://www.terminix.com/pest-control/mice/removal/mice-in-attic/

 

How can a Rodent Cleanup Company Help you?

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Rodent Cleanup. No Comments on How can a Rodent Cleanup Company Help you?

The problem of pests is a common concern in every family. This concern has been a persistent problem because of the weather conditions. But the moist weather conditions can’t be an excuse to labor under the exasperation of vermin. Pests like termites, rodents, roaches, ants, fleas, mosquitoes and other categories of pests don’t just impair the property but are even carriers of several lethal illnesses.

For battling these problems like flea control using of repellent sprays is not an effective remedial measure. To control and resolve the issue right from the roots from where these vermin redevelopments recurrently is to avail the amenities of an expert pest control service provider. As in the pest control system, the chemical used can be dangerous for health. For this hiring, only a professional who takes essential precautions while application of chemicals to protect the individuals residing from the hostile effects of the chemical and eradicating the issue totally is a must. In this grouping, there are so many trustworthy and reliable pest control service provider like Attic Construction. They have been operating in this business for several years and with their experience, they have established a name of being the superlative in the business. In this context, you can get in touch with Attic Construction for rodent cleanup services.

Whether you need rodent clean up services in San Diego, attic insulation in Orange County or Phoenix insulation removal, we can help! Contact us today!

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