Anyone who owns a home can feel bad when they find rats in their attic. Rats and other mice like attics because they are safe and warm, which makes them a good place to nest. If you think or know for sure that rats are living in your attic, you need to get rid of them right away to avoid more damage and health risks. This is an in-depth guide on how to get rid of upper-level rat infestations.
1.Confirm the Infestation:
If you think there are rats in your attic, the first thing you need to do is make sure they are there. Most of the time, rat droppings, chew marks on wires or insulation, and noises coming from the attic at night are all good signs. Rat droppings are a clear sign that rats have been around and can help you figure out how bad the invasion is.
2.Safety Precautions:
Safety should come first before you do anything else. Rats can spread diseases, and their waste can be bad for your health. When working in the attic, make sure you have the right safety gear on, like gloves and a mask. Make sure there is enough air flow so that you don’t breathe in any possibly dirty air.
3.Find the Points of Entry:
Figure out how the rats are getting into your attic. Rats are good at climbing and can get into your attic through hole in the roof, broken soffits, or vents. Look at the outside of your house to find these entry places.
4.Seal Entry Points:
Once you know where the rats are getting in, you need to seal them so that more rats can’t get in. Fill in holes with steel mesh, caulk, or foam, and repair vents or soffits that are broken. As a general rule, rats can chew through a lot of different materials. If you can, choose materials that rats can’t get through.
5.Rat traps and removal:
If you want to get rid of the rats that are already in your attic, you might want to use traps. There are different kinds of traps, such as electric traps, snap traps, and live traps. Set traps near rat droppings or bite marks in places where rats are most likely to be. Regularly check the traps and get rid of the rats that are caught in a safe and clean way.
6.Clean and disinfect:
Rats’ urine and droppings can make your attic dirty, which could spread diseases. Once the rats are gone, clean and disinfect the attic very well. Take out and replace any dirty insulation, and clean any areas that are touched. Follow the rules in your area for how to properly get rid of any trash.
7.Fix the harm:
Look for damage rats may have done in your attic. Damage to the structure, insulation, or lines that have been chewed on could be included. Fix or replace broken parts to keep problems from happening again.
8.Stop Future Infestations:
To make sure the problem doesn’t happen again, take steps to make your attic and home rat-proof. Check and fix up the outside of your house on a regular basis, paying special attention to the roof, vents, and soffits. Cut back any tree branches that rats could use to get into your attic.
9.Get help from a professional:
Getting rid of rats in your attic can be hard, and do-it-yourself methods might not always work. If you’re not sure how bad the infestation is or don’t feel safe taking care of it yourself, you might want to hire a pest control service. Technicians with a lot of experience can safely and effectively fix the issue.
10.Keep an eye on things:
After you’ve done these things, keep an eye on your attic for any signs of rat activity. By doing regular checks, you can find and fix any problems before they get too bad, avoiding an infestation in its entirety.
Always keep in mind that getting rid of rats in your attic will take time and care. You can get back control of your attic and make sure your house is safe and comfortable by following these steps and taking preventative steps.
Rat Control Newmarket, our technicians have the knowledge as well as years of experience in handling rat problems. Whether it is an infestation or an intrusion, our licensed and fully insured teams of technicians handle the problem swiftly and discreetly.