Rats Prevention

Rats are curious and agile rodents. They can squeeze through small gaps to find food and shelter. Their intelligence and curiosity drive them to seek entry through any available opening, such as cracks and crevices, unless the house or building is well-protected.

You can prevent their infestation by blocking entrances and eliminating their food sources, which is the best way to avoid sewer rats, but it's not easy to do successfully.

Once inside, they will continue to explore and exploit weaknesses in the structure, such as poorly installed and damaged doors, frames and windows, roof and wall vents, gaps under doors and flooring. They will find the most comfortable place to live and multiply rapidly, leading to an infestation that is difficult to eradicate quickly.

The risk of rat infestation is very high for establishments such as food factories, restaurants, and hotels. Sewer rats pose a significant risk to businesses. They carry many diseases, contaminate products physically, damage building infrastructure, and ultimately can negatively impact your business reputation.

For homes or residences, if a rat infestation is found, there may be a risk of exposure to germs carried by rats, which can cause illness, infectious diseases, and even death, such as leptospirosis, which is often prevalent during the rainy season and in flooded areas, and the plague, etc. In addition to health problems, house rats and sewer rats can cause electrical short circuits. Their sharp teeth will gnaw on wires, causing damage.

You may find ways to get rid of rats yourself from the internet or various reviews, but they may not be able to solve the problem completely because they do not understand the nature of house rats and sewer rats and how to get rid of rats properly.

Rat Deterrent Tips

See our tips below on practical ways you can help deter a rat problem:

• Keep foodstuffs in metal or glass containers with tight fitting lids.
• Tidy inside the house and around the garden — less clutter means less places to hide.
• Place outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop them feeding from contents.
• Clean up pet food and bird seed debris, and store pet food in robust containers with fitted lids - preferably above ground level.
• Keep gardens free from debris. If you have compost heap don’t include organic food waste, as this will attract them.

If you have already spotted signs of rats, such as droppings, you may already be too late.

Call Rentokil on 02 290 8500 or 1800 225 226 (Toll-free number) for your home and your business to arrange a survey to check for signs of rats.

Proofing Your Home

Rats will make the most of any opportunity to enter your home in search for shelter and food. Black rats are good climbers and will happily inhabit roof space; while brown rats tend to burrow more and are very adept at swimming in sewers and drain systems. Both species will gnaw at gaps to enlarge them enough for easy entry. We understand the habits and behavior of different rat species and know the correct method for your home or business premises.

Need Professional Rat Deterrents?

• Tamper-resistant rat bait stations professionally managed by Rentokil are trusted rat deterrents and are safe to use even in locations where children or pets are present.

• Rodent Proofing Solution provides sustainable rodent-proofing solutions to help protect buildings internally and externally. By utilising hard-wearing, flexible Kevlar and knitted steel mesh, Flexi Armour provides impenetrable barriers that prevent rats and mice from entering your facility. 

Our pest control experts can provide the most suitable treatments to a rat problem identified in your home or business. Professional services are often the most reliable way to guarantee long-term solution to a pest problem.

Call Rentokil today on 02 290 8500, 1800 225 226 (Toll-free number) or contact us to discuss if you need a site inspection and an effective rat control programme.