Typical targets for gnawing.
Mice and rats chew to keep their teeth short. They gnaw through insulation, plastic pipe, flex duct, wire sheathing, wood and even soft metals such as lead. Damage often shows up as a hole where there should not be one or as an air handler that struggles.
Not every sign is rodent damage. Termites, water and age also leave marks, so the technician checks the pattern before naming the cause.
The repair sequence.
- Check that nothing lives inside any longer and every entry is shut.
- Photograph and list the damage by room.
- Remove contaminated material and clean the space.
- Install new insulation, duct sections or patches.
- Test airflow and look for leftover gaps.
- Note any damage that belongs to another trade.
Skipping steps one and three wastes money. The cleanup page explains the order.
Typical repairs and what drives the price.
| Item. | What changes the price. | Notes. |
|---|---|---|
| Insulation replacement. | Area covered and type of material. | Batts and blown fill price differently. |
| Flex duct patch or section. | Length, access and diameter. | Tight attics slow the work. |
| Vent screen or cover. | Size and material. | Metal is preferred where animals can chew. |
| Drywall patch. | Hole size and finish. | May require painting by another trade. |
| Wiring. | Extent of damage. | Referred to an electrician. |
The estimate lists each of these only if the survey found it.
Moisture and air handlers in humid climates.
Air handler closets and duct runs are common sites of damage because they are warm, hidden and close to the cooling system. Damp insulation around ducts can look like rodent damage, so we check for condensation and leaks as well. If the cause is water, we say so and refer it to the right trade.
Working with other contractors.
Some repairs cross trades. A roofer may need to fix a rotten fascia, an electrician may need to replace wire and a HVAC technician may need to service ducts. We keep notes that each can use, and we coordinate access where we can.
Final walk-through.
After repairs, the technician walks the space with you. You see the new material, the sealed entries and the notes for any outstanding items. A copy goes with your estimate for future reference.
What the public health pages advise.
Once rodent waste dries it flakes into fine grit, which is why careful cleaning is wet and unhurried. The advice below mirrors public health guidance, whether or not you ever hire us.
- A single dry dropping can crumble and release a cloud nobody notices.
- Where a room has been shut, prop the doors and windows open and wait half an hour outside.
- Nest material is never a barehanded job, however dry it appears.
- After the wait, lift the soaked mess in a single sweep with a paper towel.
- Sponges, mops and brushes used during the job belong in the trash as well.
- Hand washing ends the job, gloved or otherwise.
Where the cleanup guidance originates.
Ordinary householders are the intended readers of these pages, and the steps above rest on them.
- EPA: which rodent bait products are restricted: Which rodenticide products the EPA restricts, and the reasons given.
- CDC guidance for avoiding hantavirus: The origin of the gap-sealing and tidying advice on this site.