Experts claim that rats chewing on electrical wires start one-fourth of all fires later being attributed to unknown causes.
Many rodents’ favorite pastimes are chewing wires, and these wires need to be protected with things like insulation or rat proofing. If you have a rat problem and need to protect your wires this article is for you.
As an electrician with over 15 years of experience, I am confident you’ll get a lot of value from this list of my favorite approaches.
In general, there are a few methods to protect electrical wires from rats:
- Get rid of the rats
- Block potential rat entrances
- Cover and secure your wires
Follow the recommendations to prepare for rat infiltration into your home and safeguard your electrical system.
1. Get Rid of the Problem
Unsure of how to prevent rats from chewing wires? Well, pest control or getting rid of the rats is a good starting point.
Although you can take steps to preserve your home’s electrical wiring (we’ll talk more about that later), your first method of defense should be to get rid of any rodents making a mess of it.
You use many DIY rodent disposal or pest control techniques to secure your property from mice, rats, and other creatures if you have a strong stomach and aren’t reluctant to get your hands dirty. However, hiring a pro to take care of your problem is the best method to make sure they go and stay away.
2. Block Potential Entrances
Sealing off the whole structure is one of the best ways to stop rodents from getting into your home.
Putting up barriers will stop mice, rats, and other wire-eaters from creeping back in and causing further harm. Clearing away any sections that allow easy access to your roof and sealing up any small gaps and holes with spray foam helps keep rodent damage out of your attic and prevents them from getting into your residence.
3: Cover and Secure Your Wires
If rats can’t access your cables, they can’t chew anything.
If there are any exposed areas of your home’s wiring, you should install a plastic or steel rodent-resistant cable wrap or rodent-proof wire jacket to help keep rats and mice out. Recognize that while rats can squeeze through apertures with a diameter of 1/2 inch, mice can also fit into places that are 1/4 inch broad and tall. (1)
The following are some areas you should secure:
- Vents without hardware cloth
- Gaps between framing and foundation or roof
- Openings in weather stripping
- Gaps under entry and garage doors
- Cracks between bricks
4. Have Your System Examined
Contact a qualified electrician straight away if you believe that rodents have harmed your home’s wiring. Licensed electricians are qualified and equipped to identify wire problems and make safe, code-compliant repairs. Rats may not be to blame if an electrical problem is discovered during a wire examination, but the electrician may find other dangers in your wiring.
A damaged length of chewing wire cannot simply be removed from the wall and replaced like a damaged part of a plumbing pipe can. Even if only a portion of a wireline needs to be replaced, a certified electrician often removes it. It would be best if you made extra connections and inspections to maintain the wires insulated and secure. (2)
A licensed expert inspects your entire home’s wiring damage caused by rats. They can reinforce sagging wires that rodents have been using for transportation. The electrician examines your home’s circuits several times after making repairs and upgrades to your electrical system to ensure that your wiring distributes the proper amount of electricity throughout your house.
FAQs
What are the signs that rats are chewing my wires?
Here are several indicators that rats and mice are munching on the wires in your home:
– Electrical lines and wires with bite marks.
– Scratching noise or sound behind walls.
– Nest or rat droppings.
– Flickering microwave or home lights.
– Circuit breaker tripping.
– Damage to home appliances.
What happens when rats chew my wires?
In such a dangerous situation, the electrical damage produced by rodents must be recognized and repaired safely and rapidly. Rats, mice, and squirrels can nest around wiring and junction boxes, causing severe overheating. Among the possible effects are:
– Broken wires
– Circuit breaker tripping
– Whole-house power outages
– Fire
Take a look at some of our related articles below.
- Why do rats chew wires
- Can insulation touch electrical wires
- What wires are positive and negative in a USB cable
References
(1) plastic or steel – https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/
market-insights/blogs/petrochemicals/102221-recycled-plastics-steel-scrap-sustainability
(2) certified electrician – https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/certified-electrician-vs-licensed-electrician