How Do I Get Rid of Rats in My House?
Rats are constantly on the lookout for food and shelter, and that means that unfortunately, our homes can become a nice little hideaway for them, especially in the colder months.
They can get through the tiniest of gaps and cracks, and once they’re inside, they can cause all sorts of problems, from chewing their way through electrical cables, to spreading diseases.
‘So what? If a rat gets in, I’ll just kill it,’ we hear you say. The problem is, there’s rarely only one rat, and they breed fast.
Rats have up to 6 litters a year and each litter can produce as many as 12 babies, and with Britain’s rat population estimated to be around 120 million, don’t be surprised if at least one of these pests finds its way into your house.
Do I have a rat infestation in my home?
Rats are nocturnal animals, so you might not spot one during the day, but there are some tell-tale signs that there are rats in your house.
- A strong smell- You might be able to smell their urine which smells very strongly of ammonia.
- Scuttling noises- You may hear them scurrying around in the loft or inside the walls.
- Droppings- Rat droppings look like dark pellets, and you may find them around areas where rats exit and enter areas of your home.
- Marks on walls- Rats can’t see well and they use walls and surfaces as points of reference when they are moving around, so you may see greasy marks where they’ve been.
- Footprints- These are usually visible in dusty areas. You can find out where rats are coming and going from by sprinkling flour or talc on the floor and checking it for footprints the next day.
- Damage- Chewed cables and gnaw marks or damage to furniture, or even the structure of your house are signs that rats are present.
So how do I get rid of rats in my house?
Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to keeping rats out of your home. If you think there are rats present in your home, these steps can help you avoid a full-on infestation.
Seal up any gaps, cracks, or holes
These are common ways for a rat to get into a house, so look around and identify where the rats might be getting and seal it up with cement, caulk, or metal plates.
Keep clutter to a minimum and keep key areas clean
Clutter is a perfect hiding place for pests like rats, so declutter regularly. Make sure there’s no uncovered waste lying around, and keep your bins securely closed so rubbish doesn’t attract pests.
Don’t leave tempting food sources lying around
Empty food packets, uncovered leftovers, and spillages are all attractive to rodents, so store foods in sealed containers once they are opened, don’t leave food out on the kitchen worktop, and clean up any spillages promptly.
What if I already have an infestation?
If you’re pretty sure that you have a rat infestation in your house, you need professional help. This can be either contacting a Pest Control Company to come out and fix the problem for you, or, if you are thinking of going down the DIY route, have a look on our DIY website, contegohomeshield.com
Professional pest control technicians have the best products, equipment, knowledge, and experience for the job and they’ll help you get your pest problem under control quickly. Not only that, they’ll be able to give you advice on how to prevent a re-infestation.
Do you have a problem with rats in your house?
Act fast before you have a bigger problem on your hands.
Trust Contego to help solve your pest problem fast and effectively so you can sleep soundly again.
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