Will Rodents Cause Property Damage?
If left undisturbed, a rodent infestation can cause expensive damage to both residential and commercial property. Rodents cause roughly $20 billion in damage to homes, businesses, and agriculture in the United States alone each year.
Time is of the essence when it comes to rodent infestations. Rodents are not only intrusive, but they also breed quickly, making their behavior even more destructive. Here are some of the ways rodents can harm your home or business, as well as what you can do to minimize your risk.
Learn More: Rodent Damage Repair FAQ
Rodent Damage To Insulation
Many homes have insulation that rodents have damaged. Most homeowners, however, do nothing because they believe replacing rodent-damaged insulation is too complicated or expensive. Quite the opposite is true; in fact, failing to repair damaged insulation will to more expensive problems.
Apart from the obvious sanitary issues, rodent-damaged insulation contains a wide range of pathogens that can make you and your family sick. Damaged insulation is caused by wildlife such as squirrels, bats, raccoons, and rodents. Rodents also tear apart insulation, rendering it less effective. This will result in higher gas or electricity bills because your AC/heater will have to work harder.
Foundation Damage From Burrowing Rodents
Rodents will go to great lengths to find a new food source, even digging tunnels beneath a concrete foundation. They can move large amounts of soil while searching the terrain beneath the building for an opening that will allow them to gain entry. Removing the soil that forms the foundations’ stable base creates gaps that threaten the stability of the concrete structure.
An unstable foundation can result in difficult-to-close doors and windows and the appearance of cracks in the floor, walls, and foundations in strategic locations. In more serious cases, the floor may become unbalanced because the ground on which the structure is built can no longer support its weight.
Rodent Electrical Wiring Damage
Chewing rodents can cause electrical damage, which must be identified and repaired safely and quickly. On the other hand, damaged wiring is far too often discovered only after an accident has occurred. Rodent chewing usually takes place in your home’s darkest corners. Because the damage isn’t always as evident as a bare wire, it can go unnoticed for a long time. When rats, mice, and squirrels build nests around wiring and junction boxes, the result can be dangerous overheating. The following are examples of results:
- Breaker Box Fires
- Insulation Fires
- Electrical Outages
- Short Circuits
Who Can Repair Rodent Damage?
In most cases, rodent damage can repaired by experienced wildlife control experts. Animals Happen’s pre-qualified rodent technicians will inspect your property and identify all rodent damage. They then work with the homeowner to construct a repair plan that fits both your budget and needs. Don’t forget, even though rodents have been removed from the home, repairs are necessary to prevent future infestation and other health risks.