What rodents damage.
Rodent teeth never stop growing, so they chew constantly. They gnaw wood, plastic, wire jackets, duct wraps and insulation. In attics, they tear batts into nests, and in walls they chew pipe wraps and drywall.
Damage can be hidden. A chewed duct leaks cool air, which raises your power bill, and a gnawed wire may show no sign until something fails.
Finding the full extent.
- Attic: flattened or torn insulation, chewed duct jackets and wire wraps.
- Walls: gnawed drywall edges and access holes.
- Garage: chewed door seals, shelving and stored goods.
- Vents and screens: torn mesh and bent covers.
- Vehicles: chewed hoses and wire jackets, which belong with a mechanic.
The technician photographs each item and writes a scope that separates safe repairs from items that need another trade.
What we repair and what we hand off.
| Damage. | Our role. | Other trade. |
|---|---|---|
| Fouled or ripped insulation. | Pull it out and install new. | None. |
| Chewed duct wrap or flex duct. | Replace the section or wrap. | HVAC contractor for major work. |
| Torn vent screens and soffits. | Install metal screens. | Roofer for large roof repair. |
| Chewed wiring. | Document only. | Licensed electrician. |
| Gnawed drywall. | Patch small holes. | Drywall contractor for large areas. |
Order of work.
The sequence is trapping, then sealing, then cleanup, then repair. If you rush repairs, rodents may chew them again. A staged plan avoids waste.
How Florida weather affects repairs.
In Florida's heat, damaged insulation costs more over time because attics get hotter and the AC works harder. Repairing it can bring comfort back. Humidity also means damp insulation can grow mold, so the technician flags any moisture.
A realistic budget.
Before you call: dust, droppings and your lungs
The wording paraphrases federal health pages and stays general. Take medical questions to your own doctor.
- Leave the broom in the closet. Bristles and vacuum exhaust both fling dry droppings into the air you breathe.
- A room shut for weeks needs about thirty minutes of through-draft before anyone goes in to work.
- Wear gloves the entire time, then peel them off carefully, wash them if reusable and wash your hands.
- Keep the liquid coming until nothing looks dry, then walk away for a few minutes.
- Used towels go into a plastic bag, and so does any dead rodent, handled with gloves or a tool and never bare fingers.
- Illness after cleaning up waste is a job for a physician, not an exterminator, so describe what you handled.
Public pages we followed
The rules on cleanup and bait handling come from federal agencies, and their pages are listed below.
- US EPA, rodenticide product restrictions: EPA information on restricted-use rodenticide products, and why some never reach retail shelves.
- Centers for Disease Control, hantavirus prevention: CDC hantavirus advice on holding down rodent contact around houses, sheds and vehicles.