Rats and drain defects can be a serious problem for homeowners, business owners, and city councils. While rats are naturally attracted to areas where food and shelter are readily available, drain defects can provide the perfect opportunity for rats to enter homes and other buildings, creating a significant health and safety risk. In this article, we will discuss why damaged drains can lead to rat infestations, as well as the steps that can be taken to prevent and control them.
What Can Cause Drain Defects
Some of the main causes of damage to sewer pipes, where it just takes the tiniest crack for rats to be able to exploit and gnaw their way through, include:
- Sometimes it can just be the age and type of drain that has deteriorated over time.
- Recent building works can also be a cause, where the vibrations from heavy plant machinery can fracture old clay pipes.
- Over many years, movement of the soil from extreme freezing and thawing can fracture pipes.
- Blockages and obstacles. Waste from sewers should flow freely, but blockages from backed up grease, oil, food or soap waste can damage pipes as well as obstacles that should never be flushed down the toilet. We have in the past found clothes, towels, plastic packaging and even children’s toys.
- Tree roots from trees near your house can have a catastrophic effect on your sewer pipes. Roots moving slowly over time can fracture the pipes or even crush them or grow within the pipes.
Food Particles Within Drains
One of the primary reasons that rats are attracted to drain defects is the availability of food and shelter. Drains often contain food particles, such as grease and other organic material, that can attract rats. Additionally, drain defects can provide a perfect place for rats to build their nests and raise their young, making it easier for them to thrive in populated areas.
The Sewer Connection
Another factor that contributes to the problem of rats and drain defects is the fact that drains are often connected to the sewer system. This provides rats with a convenient and easy way to travel from one location to another, making it easier for them to spread throughout a city or neighbourhood. In addition, the sewer system can also provide a source of food for rats, further attracting them to drain defects.
What Can Be Done?
To prevent rat problems and protect against the risks associated with drain defects, it is important to take steps to eliminate food and shelter sources. This can include properly storing food, properly disposing of waste, and taking steps to prevent food from entering the drains. Additionally, it is important to keep drains free of debris and to take steps to repair any drain defects as soon as they are discovered.
Although your water company takes overall responsibility for sewers, generally, any pipes that are laid under your boundary or a boundary where you have shared ownership of land are your responsibility. Water companies will check pipes up until this boundary point, but will go not further. You need to pay for a private drainage company to investigate what the problem is once the pipes go under your land or property.
However, if the infestation has gone beyond the prevention stage, you will need to speak to a professional pest control company that you can trust. One with a great reputation for providing value and resolving rat infestations thoroughly.
Calling a Drainage Company
With over 70% of rat infestations originating from a drainage problem nearby, and if there is a suspected drainage issue within the boundary of your property, it is essential to get the right contractor to investigate using their specialist drainage cameras. All too often, these firms miss the entry point (yes, even the big firms) as they don’t fully understand rat behaviour and don’t know what they are looking for or are simply not good at checking for rat damage.
We (Pest ID) went to one job at a property where it had previously took three different firms, over several months, before the entry point was discovered. When contacted, we recommend a company that we work very closely with that has become a specialist in determining if your problem is coming from the drains. If we believe a rodent problem may be coming from your sewer, this needs to be investigated, as failing to do so could mean rats problems coming back time and time again over the years, costing fortunes in pest control and potentially allowing them to do more damage to your property.
And If The Pipes Are Damaged
This may be covered by your insurance company, so it is well worth calling your house or building insurance company to see if drainage repairs are covered. However, it may be a case where you have to pay for this yourself. Regardless, modern drain fixing technology means it is not always necessary to dig up pipes to repair them, this can often be done relatively inexpensively, by remotely placing patches inside the pipe itself.
Summary
Hordes of rates accessing homes through drains sounds like something out of a low-budget horror film, but it can and does happen. By working together, we can minimise the possibilities of rat invasions – ensuring the health and safety of our neighbourhoods and communities. If you already have problems with rats, you’re not alone and we’re here to help. Get in contact with our team and protect your property today!
