Mice, rats, squirrels, and other types of rodents have been known to chew on wires and insulation in homes. These wires may be in the way of a nest they are trying to make in your wall. Unfortunately, damaged wires can spark a fire in a home. Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent this type of damage to the electrical system in your Lakeland home.

Recognize the Signs of Rodents in Your Home

Before you can prevent damage to your wiring, you have to know what to look for. In short, how do you know if you have a rodent in your home? One easy way to determine this is to look for their droppings. Mice have small brown droppings that they leave behind in large amounts. If you see droppings of this size or larger in corners or near the base of a wall, you’re likely to have a rodent problem in your home.

Noise is another telltale sign you have a rodent issue. Do you ever hear scratching, chewing or squeaking noises in your walls? These and other similar noises can definitely be a sign of mice.

And, of course, seeing a mouse or other rodent is proof you have a furry invader in your home. Chances are, if you see one mouse, there are many more family members hiding in other places!

Block Possible Entryways to Your Home

One way to prevent damage to your electrical system is to stop little critters from entering your home in the first place. Look around your doors and windows. If you see any holes or large cracks, fill them in with spackle or another type of impenetrable material.

Mice also like to enter a house through gaps beneath a garage door and through broken weather stripping. Just another reason to make sure the weather stripping around your doors and windows is in good condition

There’s a good chance you have a few vents on the outside of your home. For instance, if you have a clothes dryer, then you have a vent that allows exhaust to leave your home from this appliance. It’s not uncommon for a mouse to enter a home through a dryer vent. So, invest in an inexpensive plastic or wire cover for your vent. Make sure you choose one with holes that are too small for a rodent to sneak through.

You really have to get creative when thinking about how a clever rodent could get into your home.

Clean Your Kitchen Completely

When you sweep crumbs off your kitchen floor, pick up dropped food right away and wipe down your counter-tops, you are removing temptations from pests. Mice can pick up the scent of food scraps laying around. So, when you clean your kitchen completely, you’re removing one of the reasons why a rodent would want to come in.

Empty Trash Cans on a Regular Basis

Would you be surprised to learn that mice are always on the lookout for trashcans filled with discarded food? Probably not. It’s a good idea to remove the trash from your kitchen garbage can on a regular basis so it doesn’t begin to give off a scent.

In addition, using trash bags that you can securely tie is another way you can prevent it from smelling bad and attracting mice. Having a kitchen garbage can with a cover on it is even better!

Get a Cat for Your Household

If you are able to have a cat in your home, it can be great for keeping rodents away. Sometimes just the scent of a cat in the area will keep small furry creatures from approaching a home!

Call Pest Control Without Delay

If you already know you have mice in your home, it’s best to call a professional pest control company. That way you can have the pests removed and perhaps find out where they’re coming in.

Dealing with Damaged Wiring

When you have wires that are bare or partially chewed, they can present a danger to your home and family. That’s why you need professional electricians to solve the issue. Our electricians at D.O.C. Electrical Services are licensed and trained to fix or replace wiring that’s been damaged for any number of reasons. We go about our work in a safe, thorough and courteous way.

Lastly, if you do suspect that there are damaged wires in your home, it’s important to address the issue right away. Call D.O.C. Electrical Services today and let one of our skilled electricians repair or replace the wiring. We want you to have peace of mind about the condition of the wiring in your Lakeland area home.

Your Next Move

You should always contact a licensed electrician whenever you consider upgrading or repairing anything electrical. Electricity is nothing to play with, and attempting to fix a problem on your own could worsen your issue or create a bigger problem than you know how to fix. When it comes to installing dedicated circuits, you want to make sure the process goes smoothly and causes no issues.

At D.O.C. Electric Inc., we have the know-how to assist you. We’ll send out a professional electrician to help you figure out which appliances deserve dedicated circuits so that you can configure the electricity of your home more efficiently and logically. To get in contact with an electrician today, contact us, and we’ll help you get your circuits sorted out.