Rats Chew On Wires and Pipe Lining in the Attic


Here we see a typical example of the type of chewing rats do. Rats are rodents, and like all rodents,
their teeth grow non-stop. They must chew all the time in order to wear down their teeth, similar to
the way a cat must wear down its claws. Unfortunately, rats often choose to chew on electrical wires,
which can and has caused fires in attics.


Here is another photo that I took of rodent chewing on wires. It doesn't happen in every attic, but
when it does, it causes several potential problems. The worst problem is the risk of a fire hazard.
The next problem is that the chewing often causes a short. I've had customers tell me that all of a
sudden half of their house lost power. The other risk is that the rodent is electrocuted and dies,
(fries) causing an odor problem.


Rodents also chew on pipes and pipe insulation in attics. I see this quite often. Sometimes they like
to chew on something soft. Rodents also chew on vulnerable water pipes, if you have them in your
attic. I've been to several homes in which rodents have caused leaks in the pipes, and water damage.