Rat Control - Total Solution

Discovering rats in your home or business can be very distressing. Luckily there are ways you can deter rats and avoid an infestation. Proofing your home to deny them entry and removing easy access to food and water can really make a difference. Rats need easy and consistent access to a water source, even though they only drink between 15–60ml per day. They will eat almost anything available, but they do prefer to eat small amounts of a variety of different foods.

Rats are drawn to properties that offer reliable sources of food, water, and hiding places. Systematically removing these will make your home or business far less appealing.

Secure Your Food Sources

• In the Kitchen: Store dry goods like grains, cereals, and pulses in sealed metal or glass containers. A thin plastic or cardboard box is no match for a rat's teeth.

• Pet & Bird Food: Store pet food in robust, lidded containers, preferably off the ground. Clean up any leftover pet food or bird seed debris at the end of the day.

Manage Waste and Debris

• Outdoor Bins: Always place rubbish bags inside sturdy metal or hard plastic bins with securely fitted lids. An overflowing or open bin is an open invitation for rats.

• Garden and Yard: Keep your garden tidy and free from debris. Remove piles of wood, old furniture, or clutter that can serve as a hiding spot.

• Compost Heaps: If you maintain a compost heap, avoid adding organic food waste, as this is a powerful attractant for rodents.

How to Rat-Proof Your Property

By proofing your home, you will help to make it seem less attractive to rodents. Rats will make the most of any opportunity to enter your home in the search for shelter and food.

• Entrances - fit strips to the bottom of doors and weather-stripping around exterior doors as a deterrent. Young rats can squeeze through small gaps under doorways and will also use cat flaps to enter. They will enlarge gaps by gnawing to enter homes via garages.

• Gaps in exterior walls - fill holes or small openings (around utility cables or pipe work) with stainless steel wire wool and caulking or concrete. Steel or aluminum plating can be used. Rats can jump, so check up to a height of about 4 feet.

• Roofs - repair roof damage and use wire mesh to seal gaps. Trim vegetation away from your home. Rats climb along electrical cables or use overhanging branches to get into loft spaces and attics through gaps in broken roof tiles or under eaves.

• Drains and sewer pipes - keep toilet seat lids closed. Rats have been known to swim up damaged sewer pipes and get round u-bends in toilets. They will also use drain pipes and drainage outlets. Use tightly fitting metal grates or screens to cover drains, especially in basement areas. Check that all drain pipes are in good working order.

Why Rat Proofing Is Important

Rat proofing is a critical step in protecting your property and health. An infestation can lead to significant consequences that go far beyond just being an annoyance.

• Health Risks: Rats are known carriers of numerous diseases that can be transmitted to humans, such as Leptospirosis.
• Property Damage: Their need to gnaw is constant. Rats can chew through electrical wiring (creating a serious fire hazard), damage pipes, destroy insulation, and compromise the structural integrity of your building.
• Contamination: Rats contaminate food supplies and surfaces with their droppings and urine, posing a serious health risk and leading to financial loss from discarded stock.

By investing time in rat-proofing, you are proactively defending your property against these severe dangers.

Need Professional Rat Deterrents?

Tamper-resistant rat bait stations professionally managed by Rentokil PCI are trusted rat deterrent and is safe to use even in locations where children or pets are present.

Our pest control experts can provide the most suitable treatments to a rat problem identified in your home or business. Professional services are often the most reliable way to guarantee long-term solution to a pest problem.

Call Rentokil PCI today on 1800-212-212-5 or contact us to discuss if you need a site inspection and an effective rat control programme.