5 Essential Steps to Prevent Rat Infestations

While discovering a rat infestation inside your Pittsburgh home or business can cause a fright, the damage rats can cause to your property is what’s truly alarming. Because rats are a fast-breeding rodent that can nest, contaminate and chew through your property in a short amount of time. The best way to deal with a rat infestation is to prevent one from ever happening. Here are five essential prevention steps you can take to ensure your property remains rat-free.

Five Ways to Prevent a Rat Infestation

Preventing a rat infestation can be simpler to incorporate into your home maintenance routine than you may think. Five essential steps you can implement in your cleaning process includes:

1. Remove Food and Water Sources: Homes and businesses are alluring to rats because they provide a safe source of food and water. Start by keeping perishable goods away from countertops and cleaning up any crumbs or spills as soon as they happen. Store trash in tightly sealed containers, so the scent can’t attract rats. If you have pets, store their food off the ground when they aren’t eating, and empty their water bowls when not in use.
2. Tidy Up Your Space: Rats are able to thrive in attics and basements because they’re usually cluttered and rarely accessed by humans. Tidy up these spaces, ensuring as little is touching the ground as possible. Don’t leave any space between the wall and your storage containers. Reduce your amount of cardboard storage and swap it for stronger, more durable plastic bins.
3. Identify Access Points: Rats can squeeze through small openings to enter your home or business. Any unsealed vent, damaged door sweep or gap in your property’s exterior is a potential way for the critters to get inside. Look around your property for cracks and seal them.
4. Avoid At-Home, DIY Remedies: Some at-home remedies, like spraying essential oils or other strong scents, may temporarily keep rats away from your property. However, these tricks lose their efficacy over time and often end up costing you more time and money.
5. Hire a Rat Removal Expert: Ultimately, the best way to rat-proof your home is by consulting with a rat removal professional. Licensed and trained experts will have the equipment and expertise to secure your property before rats have a chance to enter.

Rely on Critter Control® of Pittsburgh for Safe and Effective Rat Removal Services

At Critter Control® of Pittsburgh, we use eco-friendly and humane rat removal methods that can stop an infestation in its tracks. Equipped to handle an infestation of any size, our experienced technicians will safely remove all nuisance wildlife and keep them from returning. To schedule your inspection and receive a free rat removal estimate, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.