How To Get Rid of Rats

Rats are known to spread diseases, so if you find them in your home it should be treated as a serious pest problem.

Even if rats are not entering a direct living area, any rat problem inside the home must be treated urgently.

Health Risks from Rats

Rats pose a significant health risk to humans and our pets. Common diseases carried by rats include Weil's disease, Salmonella, TB and E.coli.

Rats also carry mites, fleas and ticks and can cause acute allergic reactions.

Rats in the Home or Garden

It is extremely serious if rats are getting into your home even if they are not entering a direct living area. Any rat problem inside the home or rats in the attic must be treated urgently.

Rats in the garden and other external areas can also be high risk, particularly in areas used by children or pets.

It is important to get rid of rats in the garden to reduce the risk of them trying to enter the home.

Special care is needed for properties with integral garages or with dog or cat flaps as rats can use these to get into the home.

Signs of Rats in Your Home

Rats are nocturnal and usually hide from humans, so the typical signs of rats in the house are:

• Scratching noises in walls or under the floor as rats scurry around. Rats in the attic are common.
• Rat droppings – rats leave dark, tapered droppings about 10-14mm long.
• Distinctive smell – rats leave an ammonia-like smell that will be particularly strong in enclosed areas such as under cupboards.
• Damage – rats have teeth that grow continuously and gnaw on wood and plastic to keep them trim. Rats can even cause fires by chewing through electrical wiring.
• Ripped food packaging – rats will tear open food which may leave teeth marks.
• Nests – rats build nests in warm, hidden places using shredded material such as newspaper and fabrics. Nests will often contain young rats.
• Burrows - In gardens, rats will dig burrows especially in compost heaps or under sheds. They will also build nests under garden decking.

How to Keep Rats Away

Want to stop rats getting into your house? The first defense against rats is to rodent-proof your home.

• Seal any holes and fit bristle strip around doors - young rats can get through holes of less than 1cm.
• Ultrasonic rat control repellers emit sound that is uncomfortable for rats but cannot be heard by humans. These may help to prevent rats entering a home in the first place, however, we do not recommend them for existing infestations as rats can quickly get used to the ultrasound.
• Store food in plastic or metal containers.
• Regularly clean under stoves and refrigerators - it is important not to attract rats with food.
• Keep household refuse in closed bins.
• Do not put meat into compost heaps.
• Only use squirrel-proof bird feeders.
• Ensure that all pipe-work is in good order - rats can come up from sewers through broken pipes.

How To Get Rid Of Rats

Do you have rats in the kitchen? Or rats in the attic? If not treated, a rat infestation can quickly take hold.

There is a range of DIY rat control products available to help get rid of rats in low risk areas. However, we recommend rat control treatment by one of our service technicians for rat activity in living areas or if the problem persists.

Get Rid of Rats Professionally

Amateur DIY products can be a cost effective way to control rat problems in low risk areas. However, professional pest control is required for high risk areas, more established rat colonies or where there is a repeated problem with rats.

Rentokil has a team of experts ready to get rid of your rat problems quickly and efficiently & offer you advice on how to keep rats away from your home.

We offer you a convenient service with:

• Fast and effective home call out service to get rid of rats.
• Peace of mind - we’ll make as many visits as needed to ensure the rat problem is completely resolved.
• Expert advice - to help you prevent future rat infestations.
• Safe pest control techniques using the latest equipment – you don’t need to worry about the safety of children or pets.

Call Rentokil Pest Control Canada on 1-888-931-8881 for more information on how to get rid of rats or to arrange a visit by a technician.