Most homeowners don’t know much about rats except that they don’t want them in or near their homes. But knowing the type of damage they can cause and what they are attracted to may help you in the long run to keeping them away.
Why Do Rats Chew On Water Pipes?
What you may not know is that rats generally love to chew. If they find a weakened spot in your plumbing system (i.e. a crack, damaged or loose joint, etc.) they will begin chewing on that area to gain access to your house.
They chew through those pipes to gain access to water and depending on the environment, to travel through the pipe to gain access to whatever is on the other side of that pipe. That’s how rats can end up in your toilet!
What Types Of Pipes Can Rats Chew Through?
Rats can actually chew through some materials that you probably didn’t think they could.
- Copper pipes
- PVC / Plastic / PEX pipes
- Lead
- Wood
- Wool
- Leather
- Books
- Clothing
- Asbestos
- Concrete
- Brick
A heavy metal type of pipe (like a steel one) is the type of pipe that rats cannot chew through.
How To Keep Rodents From Damaging Your Water Pipes
If you suspect that you may have a rodent problem then we recommend that you contact an exterminator to help you with this problem.
If you aren’t sure that rodents are causing damage to your water pipes then besides seeing the damage with your own eyes, the next best solution is to use a Camera Inspection Service that plumbers can provide to inspect the water pipes.
In the meantime, you can lay out some bowls (like pet bowls) of water. If the rodents have easy access to water, they won’t necessarily be chewing through your pipes to get to that water.
Either you or the exterminator should seal any entryways that you suspect the rodents are coming through. This can often be difficult because attics and basements can have many multiple entryways that they are using.
If you have any questions about rodents and your plumbing, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-443-8229. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.