Drainage & Sewer Issues Caused by Rats
Many rat infestations start underground, and treatment alone won’t fix a drainage problem.
What can rodents do?
Rat & Mice Drainage Problems
Rats are strong swimmers and highly adaptable, and they regularly travel through sewer systems and drainage networks in search of warmth, shelter and food. When a drainage system is damaged or poorly sealed, it can give rats a direct route into homes and commercial properties.
At DCL Pest Control, we frequently find that ongoing or repeat rodent problems come down to an underlying drainage fault. Identifying and resolving these issues is essential to stopping an infestation at the source.
Farnborough Based Experts
Common Drainage Faults
What We Often Find
- Cracked or collapsed clay pipes
- Misaligned or separated pipe joints
- Clay to plastic pipe connections
- Uncapped or redundant inlets
- Broken gulleys and inspection chambers
- Pipe damage caused by settlement or subsidence
- Chewed or exposed plastic pipework
Warning Signs of Drainage Related Activity
Drainage based infestations don’t always show obvious signs at first. Common indicators include persistent rat problems despite previous treatment, scratching sounds from lower walls or floors, unexplained blockages, slow draining water, and strong odours coming from drains or pipework.
If rats keep returning, or seem to be entering from ground level, the drainage system is often the reason why.
Why Treatment Alone Isn't Enough
Simply removing rats without addressing how they’re entering the property rarely works in drainage related cases. Sewer rats will keep following the same pheromone trails through the drainage system, re-entering through the same fault time and again.
To stop an infestation for good, the entry point needs to be identified and sealed, not just treated.
SPECIALISTS IN YOUR AREA