The things rodents chew through.
A rodent's front teeth keep growing for life, so it gnaws to wear them down. Insulation gets shredded for bedding, while plastic, rubber and wire jackets get chewed because they are there. The result can be a cosmetic nuisance or a costly failure.
In a typical Florida house the common targets are attic insulation, flexible duct for the air handler, cable and wire jackets, window and vent screens, stored boxes and the corners of drywall. Vehicles and appliances are targets too, as covered on our vehicle page.
Triage: what is urgent.
| Damage. | Risk. | First step. |
|---|---|---|
| Exposed or chewed wiring. | Short circuit or fire. | Shut off the circuit and call an electrician. |
| Torn flexible duct. | Lost cooling, dust and nesting in the duct. | Document and schedule repair. |
| Matted or soiled insulation. | Reduced insulating value and odor. | Remove and replace after cleanup. |
| Gnawed screens and vent covers. | New entry points for animals and insects. | Replace with metal mesh. |
| Chewed drywall corners. | Cosmetic and access for rodents. | Patch after sealing. |
If electrical damage is possible, do not wait for our visit. If you can do it safely, switch that circuit off and book an electrician.
Repair order that makes sense.
- Trap and remove the animals.
- Seal every entry point with metal and masonry-grade sealant.
- Disinfect and clean soiled areas.
- Replace insulation, duct or screens.
- Have wiring examined or repaired by a licensed electrician where needed.
Working in that order prevents rework. Our sealing and attic cleanup services come before repair, and the inspection lists everything in one estimate.
Documenting for insurance.
Photograph damage before anything is cleaned or removed, and keep chewed samples in a sealed bag if you can. Note the date you first noticed the signs. Insurance policies differ, so ask your agent what is covered, and give them our itemized notes if they request details.
Homes that have been altered over time.
Houses that have been remodeled, extended or re-roofed often show damage at the joints between old and new work. Mention any renovation history when you call. Where wiring was run through attics or crawl spaces years ago, it can sit in places that rodents travel.
Does this sound like your house? Describe the signs aloud and a staffer tells you what they probably mean.
(888) 686-4821What homeowners can handle.
Swapping a bent vent screen or replacing a door sweep is a fine weekend job. Replacing duct, insulation or drywall is within reach for many handy owners, as long as droppings have been cleaned by the damp method first. Leave wiring and structural framing to licensed trades.
Before you call: why droppings and dust need care.
Federal health pages are paraphrased here, loosely. Your own doctor is the person to ask about medical worries.
- Skip the broom and the shop vacuum. Dry droppings crumble, and anything that stirs them sends fine particles into your breathing space.
- Before cleanup, crack every opening in the space and busy yourself elsewhere for half an hour.
- Disposable gloves suit a one-time cleanup, while thick rubber ones suit bigger jobs and can be washed afterward.
- Spray generously, step back, give it a few minutes and then lift the mess with disposable towels.
- Put soiled paper towels and any carcass into one plastic bag, handled with gloves or tongs, then knot it and set it in the regular bin.
- Feeling sick after handling rodent waste is a matter for a physician, so tell them exactly what you touched.
Government pages we relied on.
Federal agencies wrote the rules on cleanup and on handling bait, and those pages are linked here.
- Rodenticide rules at epa.gov: EPA notes on restricted rodenticide products, including why a few never reach a store shelf.
- CDC prevention guidance: CDC explanation of hantavirus, with tips for keeping rodents away from living spaces and cars.