Winter sends everyone indoors seeking warmth, including the uninvited guests scurrying around your property. While you enjoy a cozy fire in the living room, a different kind of activity often unfolds directly above your head. Your attic, dark and filled with fluffy insulation, serves as a five-star hotel for mice and rats looking to escape the bitter cold. Read on to learn more about the significant rodent damage that can occur in your storage spaces.
The Perfect Nesting Material
Rodents do not just sleep on top of your insulation; they actively destroy it. Fiberglass and cellulose insulation offer the perfect texture for nesting. Mice and rats shred these materials to build soft, warm beds for their rapidly growing families. Consequently, this activity compromises the thermal efficiency of your home. As they tunnel through the batting, they create pockets where heat escapes, causing your energy bills to rise unexpectedly.
Furthermore, the damage isn’t limited to fluff. Rodents leave behind urine and droppings that soak into the insulation. This contamination ruins the material and creates a significant health hazard, often requiring a complete and costly replacement of your attic’s insulation.
The Hidden Danger to Your Wiring
Beyond the insulation, a more immediate danger lurks. Rodents possess teeth that never stop growing, driving them to chew constantly to file them down. Unfortunately, the electrical wiring running through your attic offers the perfect resistance.
When mice or rats gnaw on electrical wires, they strip away the protective plastic coating, leaving live wires exposed. This creates a severe fire hazard. A single spark from a damaged wire can ignite the surrounding dry insulation or wooden beams. In fact, experts estimate that rodents cause a significant percentage of “undetermined” house fires each year.
Protecting Your Home This Winter
Ignoring the scratching sounds above your ceiling is a risky gamble. If you suspect attic invaders, swift action is necessary to protect your property from fire hazards and contamination.
Don’t let rodents turn your attic into their personal playground this winter. Contact Allison Pest Control today for a free pest inspection. We can help you reclaim your home’s safety!
