In Australia, there are over 60 different varieties of rodents. Some people think of them as cute and cuddly, yet their presence can pose health concerns and fire dangers. Rodents such as rats, mice, and possums like chewing on wires. They rush behind the walls looking for hidden electrical cables. However, exposed electrical lines can cause short circuits or, worse, a disastrous house fire.
Take action before these little invaders inflict damage on your family. Search for “24 hour rat control near me” online to inspect your home for rodents.
Dangers of Rodents Chewing Wires
Mice gnawing wires can cause accidents such as power outages and malfunctions. Electric malfunctioning was the second leading cause of house fires in the United States from 2012 to 2016. The National Fire Protection Association presented this information in a report.
This is not a trivial thing. When you see a mouse or rat, you should take action right away. The reason for this is that the rat population is quickly increasing. A rat and a mouse may quickly generate hundreds of children.
Electrical Troubleshooting
Because rats and mice are nocturnal creatures, you will most likely not detect them in your house straight immediately. Because rats and mice like to gnaw on wires that are kept hidden, you may not even realise they are nibbling on the wiring until your home begins to exhibit indications of electrical difficulties.
Look around your home for evidence of rodents if you observe any of these electrical problems.
- Flashing lights
- Bite marks on visible cables or frayed wires
- Appliances or computers that “blink”
- Burning acrid odour
- Droppings around electrical outlets or wire runs
- Power outages
Regardless of these warning signals, it’s a good idea to inspect the electrical wiring in your house on a frequent basis to verify it’s working correctly and safely. Many electricians advocate having your electrical system inspected every 3-5 years.
If you see these signs, make sure to search for “Mice exterminator near me” online to get rid of the rodents as soon as possible, because your house can catch fire due to an electrical hazard at any time.
And after you have removed them from your house, try out the below ideas to stop the electrical damage.
Repair Any Cracks, Gaps, or Holes in Your Home
Did you know that rats and mice can squeeze through apertures as small as 12″ in diameter? This provides several opportunities for them to develop a home in your home. Common areas to look for holes include:
- Close to doors
- Inside closets (near the corners)
- In, around, or beneath kitchen cabinets
- under the sink pipes
- Inside the attic, basement, or crawl space
- Next to windows
Remove Rodent Attractions and Entry Points Prior to Autumn
After sending in a rodent-eradication crew to clear your property of a rat or mouse infestation, you must address the causes of the infestation. It is critical to keep rats out of your walls and attics before the winter weather arrives.
The simplest way to avoid rodent-related electrical damage is to prevent access into your house and remove away objects that are appealing to rats. Understand that mice can fit into areas that are just 1/4-inch broad and tall, but rats can enter through apertures that are 1/2-inch in diameter.
Rodents can enter through your open dryer vent, window frame fractures, and attic vent holes. Rats and mice can also obtain access via:
- Vents devoid of hardware cloth
- Gaps between the frame and the foundation or the roof
- Weatherstripping openings
- Voids behind entrance and garage doors
- Cracks in the brickwork
Before the winter weather sends rats running for warm nesting areas in your home, use a fine-tooth comb to go over the outside of your house. Hire someone or perform the job yourself to seal and secure all holes, cracks, and openings in your house.
Secure electrical switch plates and outlet covers both inside and outside your house. These gaps in the wall, floor, or ceiling offer rats free access to electrical lines.
Remove any sources of standing water that mice and rats enjoy near their breeding locations. Remove any rubbish and pet food places that may attract rats.
Understand Their Food Sources
Rodents enjoy grass seed, bird seed, grains, nuts, and cereals as snacks. These goods should be stored in sturdy plastic containers or metal bins with sealed covers.
Place a garbage can in your kitchen sink. If you don’t have any, preserve food leftovers in a freezer bag, store them in the fridge, and only dispose of them on your garbage pickup day.
Hire an Electrician to Inspect and Repair Your Wiring
Contact a certified electrician immediately if you fear rats have harmed your domestic wiring. Licensed electricians are equipped with the knowledge and instruments needed to assess wire problems and make safe code-compliant repairs. Although rodents are unlikely to be the source of an electrical problem discovered during a wire examination, the electrician may discover other hidden dangers in your wiring.
You can’t just open the wall and replace a chewed-up bit of wire as you can repair a broken part of the plumbing pipe. Even if only a portion of the wire is broken, a licenced electrician would usually remove and replace the complete length. To keep wires insulated, certain connections and tests must be performed.
A qualified specialist inspects your whole home’s wiring for rat damage. He or she can reinforce sagging wires utilised by rodents to traverse. After repairing and strengthening your electrical system, the electrician runs a series of tests on your house’s circuits to ensure that your wiring is supplying the proper quantity of electricity throughout your home.
Make sure to keep your house checked for rodents as rodents can return even after a rodent control treatment. Google “Mice removal brisbane/near me” the minute you see evidence of rodent presence.
Hope you find this article helpful as a prevention method.
