If you’ve never experienced a rat infestation before, you might be shocked to see how much damage they can cause. It doesn’t take them long, especially since they’re larger than most household pests. Additionally, rats carry and spread several dangerous diseases.
Unfortunately, even if you have homeowners’ insurance, it is not guaranteed to cover the damage from rats. Only a few insurance policies in the state of Texas do so. To keep your expenses low, you must act quickly to mitigate the destruction.
The longer you leave the problem, the more time the rats have to cause extensive, dangerous damage throughout your home.
Costly Damages Caused by Rats
Contamination
Rats carry many diseases and parasites. This becomes a big problem when they crawl across tables, counters, and cabinets. Because rats leave trails of urine and droppings, you will need to throw out any food that they touch. Consuming contaminated food can make you and your family seriously ill.
Be cautious when cleaning up rat droppings. Sweeping and vacuuming can create inhalable dust that can contain hantavirus.
Damage to Structures
Rats chew non-stop to help grind down their teeth, which continue to grow throughout their adult lives. Chewing also helps them cut up materials to build their nests. They chew up cardboard, paper, fabric, insulation, furniture, and even walls and ceilings.
If it continues long enough, you might find yourself in a structurally unstable home. Often, this involves expensive renovations.
Electrical Damage
Rats also chew on electrical wiring. This is extremely dangerous, as it removes the insulation from the outside of the wires. It can also increase the risk of an electrical fire. Replacing electrical components can be extremely expensive, but it’s a necessary cost. It’s important to address electrical damage right away.
Health Risks
Rats can transmit diseases to humans via urine, droppings, or bites. Their presence can also cause asthma flare-ups and allergic reactions.
Rats are responsible for the transmission of serious diseases. These include hantavirus, rat-bite fever, salmonellosis, leptospirosis, and choriomeningitis. Some infections are so severe that they may lead to hospitalization or death.
Rats also carry fleas and ticks, which can spread other diseases. These pests can transmit Lyme disease, murine typhus, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Utility Systems Damage
Rats can wreak havoc on HVAC systems by scratching and chewing on them. This can lead to having to repair or replace the entire system, which can be costly. Rats may also nest inside the unit, which increases the chance of airborne disease infecting those in your home.
Unbearable Odor
Like many other pests, rats can cause horrible odors in your home. They carry filth into the house from different environments and spread urine, dander, and droppings. These can become so bad that they trigger allergy flare-ups or cause respiratory illness. And, of course, if a rat dies in your home, the smell can be unbearable.
Rat Prevention Tips
If you are concerned about attracting rats, there are a few steps you can take. Seal any gaps around the outside of your home with caulk. Keep your yard and garage tidy and seal your garbage cans as tightly as possible.
Avoid leaving food out and store opened food in airtight containers. Don’t feed your pets on your porch or deck, and clean their dishes regularly.
Seal damage in pipes, gutters, roofs, doors, and windows. This helps cut off access points to your home from the outside.
Protect Your Houston Home From Rats
Preventative measures only go so far. If these fail, don’t try to deal with an infestation on your own. The moment you see concrete evidence of an infestation, such as droppings, chew marks, or grease trails, call in the professionals.
Our certified experts have everything it takes to eliminate the rats in your home. With leading years of experience and expertise, we can stop the infestation in its tracks, reducing the risk of further damage. Contact us today for your free estimate!