While no one loves the idea of mice and rats invading their homes, you may be surprised to learn of how much damage those little rodents can cause in a house if left to do whatever they wish. Having to throw out pantry foods the rats and mice have gotten into can be quite disheartening, but that pales in comparison to other expensive damage rodents can cause to your home. Knowing what signs to look for when it comes to a rodent infestation is key to stopping an infestation early before damage is done and your bank account has to suffer.
Signs of rodents
While some signs are quite obvious, others red flags may not be blatant enough for you to take note. Any evidence of rodents should be taken seriously because of how quickly the infestation can grow in a short amount of time. A few signs to look for are:
- Tiny droppings
- Chewed electrical cords and wires
- Gnaw marks on wooden furniture, the bottom of a door, and baseboards
- Piles of shredded paper, pillow stuffing, animal fur, and straw
- Sounds at night like scurrying, gnawing, and squeaking
- Holes in pantry items’ packaging
If you have seen any of the above signs of rodents in your home, it is time to act to make sure mice or rats do not continue to cause damage, which would increase the cost of repairs.
Expensive damage
- Chewing through copper wiring can be expensive to replace but can also potentially start a fire, causing extensive damage to your home.
- Making nests in your airways and ducts in your home can not only block the airways, but the constant traffic in the places could cause your hvac system to need to be replaced altogether.
- Constant gnawing on furniture is one thing, but chewing through structural walls, floors, and roof can lead to water leaks, termites, and other damages.
To avoid paying through the nose for repairs because of damage caused by rodents, do not let rodents become a problem in the first place. Look around your home for possible entry points that rodents may be using to get into your home and repair or cover these areas. Set out traps in places you suspect are high traffic areas for the rats or mice. Hopefully, you have caught the infestation early. But if you are unsuccessful with the traps or you have reason to believe the infestation is more extensive than you originally thought, do not hesitate to call a pro who can quickly and thoroughly eradicate the rodents from your home. If you are in San Diego County, give Nixtermite, the best pros in the business, a call today.
