Rodents cause issues for North Carolina residents every winter. It’s a bad sign when you hear scuttling sounds coming from your walls or crawlspaces — it could mean that you have an infestation of rats or mice. Rodents often tunnel through our insulation to create warm nests or access other areas of our homes, but does this contaminate your insulation and necessitate replacement? Read on to learn about the consequences of rodents in your attic from the rodent control team at Bug Out.
Should I Replace Rodent-Infested Insulation?
A rodent presence inside your home or on your property can cause all sorts of problems. Rats and mice are notorious disease harborers, spreading pathogens not only through their bites, but also through their urine and feces. These are some notable conditions that rodents are responsible for:
- Salmonellosis
- Hantavirus
- Tularemia
- Rat bite fever
- Parasites, and more
Because of the possibility of exposure to a long list of serious illnesses, it is highly recommended that you replace your insulation after it is infested by rodents. Not only does a rodent infestation in your insulation come with a risk of infection, it also compromises the strength of your insulation to regulate your home’s temperature and defend against other kinds of pests.
How to Keep Rodents Out of Insulation
Protecting your insulation from rats and mice starts with practicing regular rodent prevention. Add these preventative measures to your routines:
- Check around your house often for cracks and gaps in roofing, siding, plumbing fixtures, foundation, and elsewhere
- Seal all of your food in airtight containers and stow it away properly when you aren’t eating
- Keep your trash bins as far away from your home as you can, and take out your indoor trash often
- Team up with your local rodent exterminators to assess your home and property for vulnerabilities that could be attracting rats and mice
The Best Way to Prevent Rodents in North Carolina
The best way to keep rodents off your property is to work with experts who understand their patterns and symptoms. Our technicians at Bug Out are experts in rodent control and are trained to use environmentally friendly tools and techniques to provide an equally safe and effective service.
We also offer a crawlspace moisture control service geared towards making your insulation less vulnerable to rodent infestations in the first place. Using moisture barriers, dehumidification, and crawlspace encapsulation, we can ensure that your insulation stays strong for years, as it should. To learn more about either of these services and receive a free quote, reach out today!
