Rats in Drains Nightmare
Rats in drains are just not something anyone wants to encounter. Ever wondered how they get into homes or buildings? Brown Rats aka sewer rats, can access properties through holes in damaged air bricks, loose tiles, and other gaps around buildings.
These rat entry points into buildings can usually be identified and sealed with some rodent mesh or concrete. If however there are no obvious signs of entry and you have sealed access points, and you are still having issues after several weeks, months (even years!!), it may be time to investigate the drainage system as a possible point of access into the property.
Years of infestations, with numerous pest control companies being called out to undertake treatments, may give the customer some respite, but never getting to the source of a chronic rat infestation can prove costly long term. Between 70-80% of rats entering properties are linked to defective drainage systems in and around a property, making it vulnerable to rats. Poor building practices also give our little furry friends opportunities that were previously unavailable and so rats in drains is now a big issue.
Homes and drainage systems:
Homes in Enfield and Haringey built before the 1980’s most likely have clay sewer pipes, which usually remain functional for approximately 50-60 years. They gradually deteriorate, with connections becoming dislodged and cracks forming – this can lead also to a rats in drains. Impact damage can occur from the installation of a fence post or a utility company installing a new gas or water main. Tree roots ingress can also cause cracks. Constant vehicle movement on the road or a driveway can affect these drainage systems giving rats an opportunity to gain access to a property.
The use of plastic sewer pipes became more prominent after the 1980’s, which typically last longer than clay pipes, but also come with their own vulnerabilities. They can be dislodged through loose or poor sub-standard fittings. Rats are also quite able to chew through plastic pipes.
Why do rats invade properties from the drains?
Rats in drains can then enter your home through drainage systems in search of food, water, and shelter. They can navigate through tight spaces and use pipes to get into multiple areas of your property. Drains provide the perfect environment for rats, as they are able to find plenty of food and water from the waste that we flush away.
How do rats leave the drainage system and enter properties?
Home renovations, particularly kitchen extensions, are a popular way to enhance the value and functionality of a home. Drainage defects such as displaced joints, broken or fractured pipework, and redundant, uncapped branch lines allow rats in drains to leave the drainage system and enter your home. Defective drainage systems beneath extensions and conservatories can also allow rats entry into your property. Rats will find their way out of damaged drainage systems which are typically adjacent to your house foundations and cavity walls. Once rats have access to your cavity wall they can move around the property easily and usually find their way up to the loft.
Rats in drains can also swim up through the toilet’s U-bend, especially if the water level is low or the plumbing system is faulty. Rats are able to chew through plastic toilet pan connectors and come out into the bathroom area. Floor drains in basements, laundry rooms, or garages can also serve as entry points if they are not properly sealed or have damaged grates.
Rats are surprisingly adept at navigating through drains and sewers, and here’s how they manage to enter your house through these routes:
- Excellent climbers: Rats are agile climbers and can easily scale vertical pipes, even those with smooth surfaces.
- Skilled swimmers: They are strong swimmers and can hold their breath for several minutes, allowing them to travel through water-filled pipes.
- Flexible bodies: Rats can squeeze through surprisingly small openings due to their flexible rib cages. This allows them to pass through narrow pipes and cracks in the drainage system.
Reasons why rats enter properties from sewers:
- Seeking food and water: Sewers often contain food waste and stagnant water, which can attract rats searching for sustenance.
- Safe harbour and navigation: The network of pipes and tunnels within sewer systems provides rats with safe passage and shelter from predators. They are particularly attracted to warm, dry spaces where they can nest and breed. Kitchens, basements, and attics provide ideal environments for rats to thrive.
- Access points: Rats can exploit crack or openings in sewer pipes to gain entry into properties.
- Warmth: Sewers can be warmer than the surrounding environment, particularly during colder months, making them an attractive habitat for rats.
- Nest: They build nests using materials found within properties, such as insulation, fabric, and paper.
Here are some signs of rats in properties:
- Rat droppings: These are typically dark brown and granular in appearance. Check out our useful pest droppings guide.
- Gnaw marks: Rats may gnaw on wood, plastic, or other materials to keep their teeth sharp or to gain access to food or shelter.
- Nests: Rats build nests from shredded materials such as paper, fabric, or insulation.
- Rub marks: Rats may leave dark, greasy marks along walls or baseboards as they travel along frequently used routes.
- Unusual pet behaviour: Pets may become agitated or alert to the presence of rats.
- Strange sounds: You might not even see rats, but hear them scurrying, scratching, or squeaking noises, particularly at night.
- Unpleasant odours: A musty or ammonia-like smell can indicate a rat infestation.
Reasons why you should act when you have rats in drains: The damage rats can cause
- Structural damage: Rats can gnaw through wood, plastic, and even soft metals, weakening structural elements of properties.
- Electrical hazards: Chewing on electric cables can create a fire risk, posing a serious threat to safety.
- Plumbing issues: Rats in drains can damage plumbing by chewing through pipes, leading to leaks and potential water damage.
- Health risks: Rats carry numerous diseases, including leptospirosis, hantavirus, and salmonella, which can be transmitted to humans through contact with their droppings, urine, or bites.
- Contamination: Food supplies can become contaminated, resulting in food-borne illnesses.
FAQ’s about rats in drains and installing rat drain blockers
Who is responsible for rats in drain pipes?
This often comes down to when and where the rats entered the property. Only then can you identify who is responsible. It could be you, the neighbour or even Thames Water.
Can Thames Water help find the source of the rat problem?
If the rats are entering your property due to a defect in the main sewer line (e.g., a collapsed pipe, a broken manhole cover), Thames Water is generally responsible for fixing the defect and controlling the rat population in the sewer. If the issue is with a shared drainage system that Thames Water is responsible for, they will typically handle repairs. You can always report the issue to Thames Water. They may investigate to determine the source of the rats.
No defect in sewers: If Thames Water engineers determine that there is no defect in the Thames Water sewer system, it’s your responsibility to investigate and resolve the rat issue.
Am I responsible for the drains on my property?
You are generally responsible for the drains that serve only your property. If the rats are entering through a defect in these drains, it’s your responsibility to resolve the issue. If the rats are escaping from your drain, then you will be responsible for the necessary repairs. And as a property owner, you have a legal obligation under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to keep your premises rodent free.
What’s the best way to determine if the problem is with my drains?
It’s always advisable to contact a pest control expert to undertake an assessment of the rat issue in your property. Alternatively, you can contact a Drainage Specialist to commission a CCTV inspection of the drainage system on your property. If any defects are identified , recommendations can be made to fix the issue. Quite often drainage specialists work alongside pest control companies, developing a plan to repair the defects in the drainage system, while the pest controller can safely use traps to remove rats inside the property.
Can rats enter toilets?
Once a rat has decided it wants to enter your home, it can easily swim and climb up the u-bend of a toilet to gain entry to the toilet bowl. It’s pretty common to find that a rat has chewed through plastic pan connectors connected to the back of a toilet. This can often lead to leaks at the back of the toilet, which a plumber can usually identify as damage caused by a rat.
Why can’t I find my manhole cover?
It can be tricky to find a manhole cover, especially if it’s been hidden over time. Here are some common reasons why you might be having trouble:
- Covered by debris: Leaves, dirt, or even overgrown grass, that can easily obscure a manhole cover.
- Hidden under landscaping: Previous homeowners might have covered it with soil, rocks, paving or other landscaping features.
- Located in an unexpected place: Manhole covers aren’t always in obvious locations. They could be near the property line, under decking, or even in a flowerbed.
- Shared access: In some cases, your property might share a manhole with a neighbour, meaning the cover is located on their property.
Property renovations including extensions and conservatories may have been built over the manhole cover.
Where can I find my manhole cover?
- Check your property line: Manhole covers are often located near property lines, as that’s where sewer lines tend to run.
- Speak with neighbours, to determine whether there is a shared system that may be on their property. Alternatively, you can also determine the pattern of manhole locations, which could be with every other house.
- Look for clues: Sometimes there are subtle clues, like a slight depression in the ground or a patch of discoloured grass.
- Use a metal detector: If you suspect the cover is buried, a metal detector can help you locate it.
- Contact Thames Water or Enfield and Haringey council: They may have records or maps that show the location of sewer lines and manhole covers.
- If you’re still unable to find the manhole, it’s best to contact a plumber or drainage engineer.
Solutions and preventing rats from getting into properties:
- Maintain plumbing: Regularly inspect and repair any cracks or leaks in your plumbing system.
- Maintain the external environment – food and waste in and around the property.
- Secure drain covers: Ensure all drain covers are in place and securely fastened.
- Install a rat drain blocker: These rat drain blockers allow water to flow out but can prevent rats from entering through drains.
- Seal entry points: Seal any cracks or openings in your foundation or around pipes that could provide access to your home.
- Have a drain camera inspection to find the defects that allow rats to leave the sewers and enter your home. The survey will explore every part of the drainage system including branch lines and connections.
You should receive recordings / images alongside recommendations for works to fix the defects in your property. The drainage company may include drain liners to seal defective or redundant drains and valves to stop rats from entering your drainage system.
At Sparta pest control, we often work alongside a drainage specialist to remove rats, through trapping , while the repair works in the drainage system are fixed.
Conclusion about rats in drains
It is possible that despite you taking all the correct steps to address and trying to prevent a rat problem in your home, your drainage system might still leave your property vulnerable. With the right professional support in place, these problems can be dealt with. It is always advisable to include pest control in your home insurance, that can cover you for any drainage defects that can be costly to repair.
In some instances , excavation may be needed to gain access to broken pipes below and inside your property. With a robust well designed drainage system, in a good structural condition, rats should not be able to leave the sewer network and enter your home.
Enfield pest control and Haringey pest control services.
At Sparta pest control, once we’ve undertaken our initial inspection regarding your issue of rats in drains, we may recommend a drainage survey, and work alongside our colleagues to permanently remove rats from your property. As a locally based family business, we are invested in providing high quality and effective pest control in your area, as it’s our area as well.
We aim to protect your home and business the smart way. Most of our business is generated through recommendations from customers that have used our services before. Just take a peek at our Google reviews!
