Do you think you may have a rat infestation in your home? Rats can be very unwelcoming visitors to your home for a number of reasons, from spreading diseases and being destructive, for such small animals they can create an unpleasant living situation.
Catching a rat infestation before it worsens is very important. The diseases which rats can carry will pose a health risk to anybody living in your home. From Salmonella to Hantavirus and many more, a rat can spread disease by simply urinating on a surface. Not only can they cause health risks without you knowing, but they can also cause serious fire risks by chewing through electrical wiring hidden within walls and insulation.
There is no need to panic though as there is a multitude of ways of handling an infestation.
What are the telltale signs of a rat infestation?
- Strange smells around the house: If you are noticing a rather unpleasant, ammonia-smelling aroma around your property, this could be a main sign of an infestation.
- Scratching noises: This is an obvious sign of an infestation where you will be able to hear noises either in floorboards, walls or ceilings. From squeaking to scratching you will be able to tell that there is something there.
- Droppings or smears: Finding small pellet droppings and grease smears across walls and floorboards are signs of rodents in the home.
- Damage to the home: If there are chew marks on furniture, appliances and storage, then you will know that there are rats present.
How to get rid of an infestation quickly
It can be really inconvenient to live with rats and wait to get rid of them. Here are some of our tips on how to get rid of an infestation quickly and effectively:
- Find out where they are coming from
Before you can think of getting rid of the infestation, you will need to do a full home inspection to find out where they are coming from. Check the outside of the house in areas such as a shed, garage, and gaps near vents and pipes. You will also want to check any appliance lines. Once you have found the area which is letting the rats in, you can seal the entry points and use traps.
- Sealing the entry points
The pesky thing about rats is that they do not need a large entry point to get into a house. They can quite easily squeeze through gaps the size of a ten-piece coin. This is why it is important to seal off any gaps in both internal and external walls. You can fill these gaps with metal kick plates, cement, wire wool or caulk. You will want to check these every so often to make sure they are still intact.
- Make sure that you get rid of any potential hiding spaces and clean up
Rodents love a place to shelter and hibernate and hide. One of the best ways to get rid of rats without using poison is by getting rid of these hiding spaces. Getting rid of any clutter and objects by walls can eliminate this. It is also important to keep all rubbish and leftovers in closed bins and clean up any crumbs or spillages before they can get to them. Having regular drainage cleaning can also help this.
- Set traps
Setting traps can be seen as cruel, however unfortunately it is the most effective way to eliminate rats quickly. Setting traps is less harmful than using poison. If you are setting traps yourself without professional guidance, make sure to use plenty of them and to put them where you believe the rats to be in high activity. Use foods such as peanut butter, seeds, apples and other fruits as bait.
- Get professional help from a pest management company.
If you have a rat infestation that you do not think you can solve yourself, or if you would like to make sure it is done correctly and effectively, using a company like DASA can give you extra peace of mind. Reputable contractors from DASA will ensure that your rat infestation issue is professionally dealt with and you won’t have to worry about eliminating them from your home anymore.
