A rat climbing onto a roof in Eastern TNRodents are a common pest issue for East Tennessee residents every year, especially in the winter. If you think you’re hearing the noises of scurrying footsteps coming from your walls or crawl spaces, you could have rats or mice tunneling through your insulation. It is well known that rodents like to nest in our insulation and tunnel through it to travel around homes, but does this process cause contamination? Additionally, do you need your insulation replaced after a rodent infestation? Read on to learn about the effects of a rodent infestation in your attic from our rat and mice exterminators at Johnson Pest Control.

Should You Replace Rodent-Infested Insulation?

Having rats or mice inside your home can cause many different problems. Rodents are infamous for spreading disease — this happens not only through their bites, but through their urine and feces as well. The most notable diseases and ailments that rodents are responsible for include:

  • Salmonellosis
  • Tularemia
  • Hantavirus
  • Parasites
  • Rat bite fever, and more

Because rodent infestations can cause exposure to pathogens, we highly recommend that you replace your insulation after a rodent infestation. Infested insulation can become contaminated, but it can also become compromised in more ways, affecting its ability to regulate temperature and ward off other kinds of pests.

How to Keep Rodents Out of Your Insulation

In order to keep rodents out of the insulation in your attic, walls, and crawl spaces, you have to take measures to keep them off of your property in the first place. Here are some preventative actions you can take:

  1. Seal your food in airtight containers and keep it stored away when you aren’t eating
  2. Regularly inspect your home’s exterior for cracks and gaps in the foundation, siding, plumbing fixtures, roofing, and elsewhere
  3. Keep your trash bins at a maximum distance from your home, and make sure you take out your indoor trash regularly
  4. Hire your local rodent exterminators to conduct an inspection to assess your property for hidden vulnerabilities

The Best Way to Prevent Rodents in East Tennessee Homes and Businesses

The best way to prevent a rodent infestation and in turn protect your insulation is to hire your local rodent control experts to help you understand how they operate. The Johnson Pest Control rodent exterminators are trained to follow IPM principles, meaning that they are in search of the least invasive, most environmentally friendly rodent control solutions at all times.

Johnson Pest Control also offers a TAP® Insulation installation service. This insulation is specially designed to fortify existing insulation and act as an extra potent barrier against many common crawlspace pests. Contact us today to learn more about either of these services and receive a free quote!

Do Rodents Contaminate Insulation? in Sevierville TN

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