Rats, mice, and other rodents have the uncanny ability to find a way into your home. The damage that these rodents cause to a home can be monumental. The damage can range from costly repairs to the destruction of the entire house. Continue reading to learn of some of the ways that a rodent invasion can lead to a huge amount of damage and massive headaches for any landlord or homeowner.
- Fire Hazards: Rodents such as mice and rats are always looking for the perfect materials to build their nests. These materials can range from any wrappers or trash they find lying around to the insulation on wires. Nibbling away at this insulation and then carrying it back to their nesting site can leave exposed copper. This exposed wiring can become a huge fire hazard as soon as it allows electricity to be delivered to something other than its intended source. This can lead to power outages and fires that destroy the home or building you work so hard to maintain.
- Structural Damage: One of the biggest problems with rodents who decide to inhabit a building or home is that they chew on everything. Constantly gnawing and nibbling at wood, wiring, furniture, and much more can have significant long-term damage. Year of constant gnawing on wood will eventually lead to a weakened structure. This structure is then prone to failure, and because these vermin typically operate in spaces where they are invisible to most people, the damage may be completely unknown until it is too late. This is a major reason why it is critical to stamp out a rodent problem before it causes unrepairable damage.
- Health Issues: Another threat caused by these pests is the high risk of health issues. Rats and mice are continually looking for new food sources. A cardboard cereal box does little or nothing to protect the food inside from the jaws of a hungry mouse. In fact, the mouse may even take the box’s fragments back to their nest to help build their unwanted dwelling. If a mouse decides to share food with the other inhabitants of the house, it could spread the disease to unsuspecting people. Rodents are notorious for being carriers of and spreading diseases, and when they are sharing your food supply, the opportunity for problems is far too prevalent.
- Odor Issues: The damage caused by rodents is not limited to the preceding cases, however. Another problem that can become evident only after it’s too late is the pungent odor of a rodent infestation. If a rodent becomes trapped in a structure and dies, then it can be nearly impossible to discover the source of the smell. This rotting animal will leave behind a foul odor with a hidden source that is as frustrating as it is a nuisance. The rodent dying is not the only source of the smell. Even living animals cause problems such as feces and urine. These leave behind pungent odors in addition to unsightly stains.
The best way to handle any of the above cases is to contact a professional who can remove, prevent, and restore a space that is wrought with rodent damage. Rodents in your home or building can cause massive amounts of damage, take care of the problem before it’s too late.