Pests and Water Damage

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

It should come as no surprise that water is one of the biggest causes of costly damage to homes. From heavy rainfall due to storms, to sewage backups, and appliance leaks there’s no shortage of potential water damage dangers. One potential way your house might get water damaged that is not often thought about is from pests.

Animals like rodents and racoons often seek shelter in openings in people’s homes and get into areas they should not be in like your attic or in the walls. On top of the obvious damage they can cause from chewing on your home's structure and leaving waste behind, these pesky animals also love to chew on plastic pipes. These animals include:

• Squirrels
• Racoons and opossums
• Mice and rats
• And any other animals that can fit into the small openings in your home

When these animals decide to eat away at your pipes it can cause some serious leaks in your home, and if not caught early enough, thousands of dollars in damage.

The best way to prevent this is with regular inspection and maintenance of your home. Check to make sure that there are no exposed openings to your home from the outside like holes around vents, your crawlspace, or in your roof. Typically, these are the areas where you will likely see animals trying to get in. You should also regularly inspect all of your visible pipes in your home for leaks. While they may start out small and unnoticeable, even just a small amount of water can slowly turn into a big problem.

If you notice water damage during your regular home inspections give us a call here at SERVPRO of Chesterfield and SERVPRO of Tri-Cities, Plus. Our team is constantly working to help ensure that they are using the best techniques and equipment available to make your water loss, “Like it never even happened.”