Animals Can DamagebrYour Home
Sponsored by Berkeys Air Conditioning and Plumbing
Animalsbrand insects in your crawl space and attic can cause extensive damage to thebrstructure of your home. Some animals carry diseases, which can cause majorbrinfections, some animals will bite if cornered, and others will bite or stingbrto defend their nests. All of them can be dangerous, and animal bites hurt. To removebryour unwanted houseguests safely, know your enemy!
Squirrels, for example, will chewbrthrough almost anything to get into your attic or crawl space. The holes theybrcause can lead to leaks, structural damage and mold growth, which can be costlybrto repair. Mold and mildew can cause serious health issues. Squirrels only needbra 1-½ inch gap to access your attic. Once inside, they chew on almost everythingbr(insulation, holiday decorations, old clothes from the 1970s) to make a nest.brThey might even chew through wiring, even inside your air conditioning unit.brDamage like that could cause a fire that destroys your entire home.
Raccoons, possums and hedgehogs are also looking at yourbrhome as a good place to line, although they need a larger access space thanbrsquirrels. Raccoons are incredibly curious. Like a litter of puppies leftbrunsupervised, they leave a path of destruction in their wake, tearing apart airbrducts and shred insulation to see what they can find (particularly shiny things).brAnd in the process, repair costs and utility bills increase by the minute.
Tobrrid your home of squirrels and similar types of pests, you can use humane traps.brJust remember to check them often and release the furry creatures outdoors far,brfar away from your neighborhood. Baiting the traps with peanut butter usuallybrworks well. You can also try a one-way exclusion door that allows them to leavebryour home but not to re-enter. Once your guests have been relocated, plug anybrholes (even the tiniest gaps) that might invite them or others to return.
Unlikebrlarger animals, mice and ratsrequire a different tactic. Mice think any warm, dry place is a convenientbrlocation for a nest. Rats, on the other hand, are not happy in the wild. Theybrare social rodents and like to live near humans. They really like our trash. Ratsbrwill crawl through holes so small you wouldn’t think it was possible for thembrto get through. Theybrcan squeeze through an opening as small as ½ inch, while mice can squeezebrthrough a ¼-inch hole. Rodents will nest anywhere, but the attic is a favorite as they preferbrto tunnel through clutter and insulation. To get rid of rats and mice, seal offbrevery possible entry point, then set mice or rattraps. Both animals reproducebrvery quickly, so relocating them probably won’t work. Keep using the trapsbruntil you are sure there are no rodents are left. Using poison is too dangerous,brand having dead (and decaying) rodents in your house is not pleasant.
Bats, usually found in thebrattic, can squeeze through openings as small as ½ an inch. They usually enterbryour home through gaps near the edge of the roofline. You know you have bats ifbryou see them flying in and out of holes at your roofline or by the uniquelybrpungent odor of their droppings. To remove bats from your belfry, seal allbrpoints of entry and use one-way exclusion doors.
Likebrfurry freeloaders, snakes can alsobrclimb into attics and crawl spaces through small holes. They are usually attractedbrby a food source. Removing any tempting morsels (like mice) will usually sendbrthem on their way, but don’t try to remove them yourself — it’s recommended tobrhave a professional exterminator remove snakes from your home.
Our most abundant intruders are insects,brwhich come in all shapes and sizes and target our homes in many ways. In Texas,brtermites are our biggest problem because our climate is perfect for them. Theirbrfavorite woody foods are available in every neighborhood. To find them, lookbrfor the powdery wood residue that is left behind wherever they feed. They willbrweaken the entire structure of the house given the chance. Do not try and getbrrid of them yourself; it is next to impossible without specialized chemicalsbrand equipment. Call in the experts — a professional exterminator will have tobrplace tests around your home to monitor for future invasions.
Cockroaches can enter a home throughbrseemingly impossible gaps and drains. They love dark, hidden spaces becausebrthey can breed undisturbed there. The best way to get rid of them is to use anti-cockroachbrspray wherever they might be nesting or anywhere you see them around your home.brYou can also use “bug bombs,” but follow the directions carefully. Repeat thebrtreatment until they are vanquished. Call in professional exterminators if thebrspray isn’t working.
Flyingbrinsects, like bees and wasps, findbrour homes to be great places to live. In winter, our homes keep their hives or nestsbrwarm and toasty. They find a tiny crack in our exterior walls and start construction.brOver time, their hives/nests might grow quite large in eves, overhangs and walls.brThe insects themselves could find cracks in light fixtures or vents to enterbrour living space. If you know you have honeybees, you can call a professionalbrbeekeeper that will relocate the hive. For other insects, you might have tobrcall a professional exterminator if sprays aren’t working or the hive/nest isbrlarge or inaccessible. Removing these nests could require extensive repairs.
Youbrdon't have to share your house. The most humane way to cope with pests is tobrprevent them from entering in the first place. Inspect the outside of your home,brand repair holes and the tiniest of cracks regularly. Look for damage to roofbrflashing, behind gutters, foundation cracks and tears in vent screens. Once thebranimals or insects have entered your home, they must be removed properly. Ifbryou prefer to have the problem handled by a professional exterminator, look forbranimal control experts or exterminators that service your area.
Howeverbryou solve your assault by nature, you will have to make repairs. Having holesbrand damaged air ducts can severely impact your energy efficiency and yourbrbudget. Make sure you inspect your home thoroughly for damage. Examine your wiringbrin the attic, crawl spaces, air conditioning units, air ducts and insulation asbrwell as the building structure itself. Some repairs might require abrprofessional contractor, electrician or other certified repairperson, such as abrcertified HVAC technician.
About Berkeys
Berkeys is an award winning home service company, providing quality plumbing, air conditioning, and heating services to homeowners in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex for over 35 years.
All of our technicians, are background-checked, drug tested and have passed rigorous state examinations and are licensed by the State of Texas; they understand the complexity of state codes all the way down to local requirements.
Berkeys maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has led the field in area newspapers' readers' favorite polls. For questions and scheduling information visit Berkeys Air Conditioning & Plumbing, or give us a call 24/7 at 817-481-5869.