The Hidden Dangers of Rodent Damage: How They Impact Your Home & Safety

When talking about pest control, rats and mice may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, these animals are a dangerous pest that can cause a host of problems for your health and home. Seeing a rodent requires immediate action to prevent the worst—discover the hidden dangers of rodent damage and what you can do to stop it.

What Sorts of Damage Do Rodents Cause?

While they may seem relatively harmless, rodents can be an extremely destructive pest. They’re not known to bite humans unless they feel threatened, but they can cause a lot of damage to your home and even get your family or pets sick.

Diseases

Perhaps one of the most dangerous parts of a rodent infestation is the diseases they spread. Mice and rats can get you and your pets sick without even biting you. For example, if they get into your food, you’re at risk of salmonella and contaminated food.

Other diseases, such as Lyme Disease and even the plague, may be spread due to the fleas and mites rodents often bring with them. From hantavirus to rat-bite fever, these home invaders can put your health at significant risk.

Furniture & Wall Damage

Rats have incredibly powerful teeth, stronger than even human teeth. Because of this, they can chew through a host of materials, including:

• Soft metals, like aluminum, copper, and even iron
• Brick
• Drywall
• Wood
• Cinder blocks
• Some cement materials
• And more

This means that rats can chew through much of your furniture, water pipes, and even your walls. The only materials that rats can’t chew through are galvanized steel, solid concrete, and solid stone, so you may want to consider using these materials for flooring, your home’s foundation, and as barriers against rodents.

Chewing through Electrical Wires

As we mentioned previously, rats can chew through soft metals, which many wires are composed of. This can quickly become a serious hazard—damaged wires are a fire risk.

In some infestations, the rodents will chew through live wires and water pipes, causing flooding in areas where there are exposed wires with devastating results. If you see damaged wires or signs of a rodent, you’ll want to act quickly to prevent fire damage.

Damage to Your Car

What surprises many people is that rodent damage in cars is not uncommon. Much like the wiring in your home, rodents can chew through the wires in your car. There have been reports of rodents chewing through the steering wheel connection, blocking air conditioning vents, and causing damage throughout the engines. So while you’re inspecting your home for signs of rodents, also check your garage and car for these sneaky car destroyers.

Does Homeowners’ Insurance Cover Rodent Damage?

While rodents can cause significant damage to your home, it’s not usually covered by homeowners’ insurance. However, if the damage is significant enough to cause flooding or fires, you may be able to file a claim. The best course of action to prevent damage and save money in the long term is to invest in comprehensive rodent control services.

Can One Rodent Cause Damage?

If you see one rodent, you may think you’re not at risk for significant damage. However, even one rodent can cause substantial destruction. From diseases to chewing through wires, a single mouse or rat is a threat to your health and safety.

Plus, if you see one, likely, there are more not too far away. You can try DIY control methods to see if rodent activity decreases, but if that doesn’t work, call a professional as soon as possible.

How to Prevent Rodent Damage

Like many pests, rodents are attracted to food and a warm, dark shelter. By regularly cleaning your home, properly sealing and disposing of food, and sealing off potential entry points, you can help prevent these pests from entering your home. For more tips on preventing rodent damage, check out our guide here!

Protect Your Home & Family with Clint Miller’s Rodent Control

Ultimately, the best way to protect your home and family from rodents is through professional pest control. Our team at Clint Miller Exterminating will inspect your home for signs of rodents, find the root problem, and create a plan to eliminate and prevent future infestations. Take the first step in protecting your home, and schedule a rodent control service with us today!