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How do sewer rats get in your house?

I keep getting rats in my home. I think they’re coming from the sewer under my house, but I don’t know how they’re getting in. I’ve checked for cracks in my foundation, but there aren’t any. How do sewer rats usually get into a house?

avatar
Patrick Price · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
I’m so sorry to hear that you’re dealing with a rat infestation. Unfortunately, rats are very good at getting into places where they’re not wanted. They can squeeze in through tiny gaps in your walls or foundation. If you’ve checked for possible openings, they could also be climbing up through your pipes.
Keeping all your drains and toilets covered can prevent sewer rats from entering your home.
Keep in mind that crawling through your pipes is only one of many ways that sewer rats get into your home. Don’t assume that rats are coming through your drains without checking other possible entry points. Here are some common ways that sewer rats can get into your house:
  • Cracks in the foundation
  • Vents
  • Openings in your roof
  • Gaps around your windows
  • Through your chimney
To tell for sure which method rats are using to enter your home, check for rat droppings around each entry point and set traps near each.
Whether it’s a crack in your roof or a break somewhere in your plumbing, rats usually need some form of damage to your house that they can squeeze through. Keep your house in good repair to minimize the risk of rat infestation. While a
home insurance
policy won’t help with a rat problem, it can protect your home from a variety of other perils.
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Jerry
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