Electrical equipment can be dangerous, especially if you do not know what you are doing. However, thanks to advances in technology, most of the electrical equipment in homes today is safe and easy to operate without creating any hazards for yourself or your family. But what about hazards you cannot see? What about dangers that are difficult to even predict?
One such danger that affects electrical wiring across the U.S. is rodents. These pests have teeth that never stop growing, and as a result, must constantly be chewing on something to sand them down. Essentially, rats and mice have to trim their teeth the way humans trim their nails. This is what leads rodents to gnaw on electrical wiring. Your home’s wires have a round shape and are small enough for rats and mice to grip, making them a prime target for them to grind their teeth on—keeping them small and sharp at the same time. Rodents may also use wiring to help build their homes, as they will always look for shelter in dark corners of your house, including inside walls and ceilings.
The top signs rodents have damaged your wiring include:
- Visible bite marks on wiring and cables
- Scratching sounds behind your walls
- Nests and droppings in your walls/attic/elsewhere around your property
- Flickering lights
- Malfunctioning appliances
- Frequently tripped circuits
- Appliance failure
- Frequent power fluctuations
- A burnt, decay smell (indicating the presence of a dead/electrocuted rodent)
- Sightings of rats and mice chewing on car wires
- Other rodent sightings
How to Stop Rodents from Chewing on Your House’s Wiring
When rats and mice chew on your home’s wiring, it can cause a ton of malfunctions in your electrical system, and may even lead to fires, so do not hesitate to act. You should call a pest professional right away if you notice any of the signs listed above, and watch out for rats and mice hanging around your car as well (as previously stated, seeing rodents outside, chewing on your car wires means there is a good chance they have made their way into your home as well.) Fortunately, there are ways to help keep rodents out of your property, but to reiterate, it is important to act right away if you have noticed signs of a potential problem.
To keep rodents away from your house’s wiring, you should:
- Seal of cracks and entry points as much as possible
- Keep your home clean/put away leftover food right away
- Regularly take out the trash and keep a tight lid on your garbage can
- Put plastic or steel covering on your wires
- Keep your trees trimmed to prevent rats and squirrels from making their way onto your roof
- Use traps/call an exterminator to get rid of mice and rats
- Call an electrician to regularly check your wiring
All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical Knows How to Protect Your Home’s Wiring
Being proactive is the best way to protect your home’s electrical equipment. Therefore, regularly checking your wiring is an important step in keeping rats and mice away and ensuring your wiring stays safe. Our skilled electricians at offer All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical offer electrical maintenance to keep your system in tip-top shape, including inspections to catch problems before they spiral out of control. And if your wiring has been significantly damaged by rodents, we can provide rewiring service that will have your system up and running again in no time. Make your presence known and show rodents who really runs your household by calling All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical to protect your electrical system today.
All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical is available 24/7 at (909) 500-8193. You can also click here to contact us online anytime.