What gets damaged by rodents.
Rodents chew to keep their teeth short, and they chew to build nests. Insulation, duct wrap, plastic pipe, wire sheathing, wood trim and even soft metal can all suffer. The damage is often hidden in attics, crawl spaces and wall cavities.
Some damage is cosmetic. Some is functional, such as a duct that leaks conditioned air or insulation that no longer insulates. We sort damage by importance so you can plan.
Common repair items.
- Insulation that is flattened, soiled or shredded.
- Duct wrap and flexible ducting with holes.
- Vent and soffit screens that have been chewed.
- Wood trim, sills and fascia with gnawing.
- Drywall patches or small holes at pipes.
Order of work.
The right order is simple: trap, seal, clean and then repair. Repairing earlier invites new damage. Fresh materials survive only when the animals are out and the entrances are closed.
| Damage. | Typical fix. | Who takes care of it. |
|---|---|---|
| Soiled attic insulation. | Take out and replace once cleaned. | We price the cleanup, and replacement is a separate line. |
| Gnawed duct wrap. | Wrap or replace the section. | We handle small sections, and an HVAC company handles larger ones. |
| Chewed wire covering. | Replace or repair the wire. | A licensed electrical contractor. |
| Gnawed trim or soffit. | Cover with flashing or replace. | We handle small repairs, and a carpenter handles larger ones. |
Where another trade is needed, we say so plainly. Pest work and building repair are different skills, and we prefer to refer you than to promise too much.
Older materials and older buildings.
Centerport includes buildings of many ages, from the c. 1730 Suydam House to modern construction. Old plaster, wood lath and aged insulation can all be damaged by rodents. If your house is older, mention the materials you know about, since repairs may need different techniques.
The National Register-listed Van Iderstine Mansion from 1897 is another reminder that this area has historic buildings. If you own a historic property, tell the dispatcher, because repairs after a rodent problem may need extra care and a specialist, and the technician will inspect the attic and walls with that in mind.
Does this describe your property? Tell a dispatcher what you notice and learn what it likely means.
Dial (888) 686-4821Paperwork and next steps.
We document what we find, with notes and photos where allowed. That record can help with insurance questions or contractor quotes. You decide what to approve.
Before repairs, confirm that trapping, sealing and cleanup are complete. If you need an inspection first, we can start there.
Household health checklist while you wait
The following squeezes down published public health advice, and it applies even if you never book a visit.
- Brooms and vacuums are the tools to avoid, because each one hurls settled waste back into the room.
- After weeks behind a closed door, a room benefits from a through-draft and a patient half hour.
- Leave gloves on for the whole job, remove them carefully, rinse reusable ones and wash your hands.
- Go on spraying until every bit is shiny wet, and then step outside for a short while.
- Spent towels go into a plastic sack together with any dead rodent, picked up by a gloved hand or tongs, never a bare one.
- Feeling sick after contact with droppings is for a physician to judge, so tell them what you touched.
Public references behind this page
Federal agencies set the rules on cleanup and poison, and their pages are linked below.
- EPA rules on store-bought rodent bait: Why some rodenticides are sold only to licensed users, as the EPA lays it out.
- CDC hantavirus prevention pages: CDC suggestions for limiting rodent contact inside homes, sheds and vehicles.