Rodents are not exactly a topic anyone likes talking about. They strike fear into most peoples hearts, truth be told. Not only do they leave disease ridden droppings, a dead rodent in your walls of garage will give off an awful stench. But aside from all these horrible thoughts, there is one very practical reason why you want to keep rodents out of your home. Rodents can chew through electrical wires, resulting in potentially dangerous and costly damage.
Why Rodents Attack Electrical Wires
No, your wires don’t necessarily taste good. Mice, rates and other rodents need to chew on something to keep their teeth under control. Teeth in these animals grow continuously throughout their life. They must gnaw constantly in order to wear the teeth down and keep them from growing too large.
Often, your wiring is simply in their way, and they want to make their way past it. They don’t understand. Rodents who have infiltrated your home often occupy the same space as your wiring, such as in your walls.
How Can You Avoid Rodents?
Cleaning your house on a regular basis is essential when preventing rodents from getting into your home. Keep your garbage can lid closed and locked if possible, so as not to allow rodents to get in and dine on a regular basis. Keep your kitchen counters free of food, especially crumbs and irresistible tidbits. Sweep your floors often for the same reason.
In the pantry, seal foods into locked glass jars if possible. Cardboard boxes are easy for rodents to chew into, so be sure to keep your eyes open for evidence of droppings or gnawed boxes.
Seal Up the Holes
One of the best ways to bar entry for rodents into your home is to seal any gaps or openings they can fit into. In Sarasota area homes, these gaps can most often be found in the attics and along the eaves. Many builders leave gaps for ventilation and to make sure the attic doesn’t get too hot, so you don’t want to block them. However, you can install chicken wire along the gaps to prevent the rodents from getting in.
Trim Your Trees
Many times the rodents gain access to your home by running along tree branches or tall shrubs. By keeping limbs and branches trimmed and away from the roof, you can minimize their access to your home, especially via the attic and roof.
How Serious is Damage to Electrical Wires ?
It seems like a lot of work to prevent a few nips at your electrical wiring, doesn’t it? Of course you never want rodents in your home. But the damage they can cause should not be downplayed.
The electrical damage they can cause may be as simple as a blown breaker, but could also be far more significant. You could experience a power outage in your home, but the main concern is an electrical fire. Exposed wiring in the walls are an extreme fire hazard, and unfortunately, you won’t know the damage is even there until its too late.
Can Anything Else Be Done to Protect Electrical Wiring?
There are two ways to protect your home against rodents gnawing on your electrical wires. The first is to take measures to prevent entry, such as described above. However, you can also ask the master electricians at Promise Electric to help to protect your wiring. Electricians can seal your wiring in protective coatings, or encase them in other materials such as plastic. If you have fully exposed electrical wiring, our team will install covers to keep the wiring protected and inaccessible by pesky rodents.
If you suspect that rodents have infiltrated your home and potentially damaged your electrical wiring, give Promise Electric a call.
