Welcome to my Homepage Blog. Here you'll find stories about inspections I have done and facts I think are interesting to share with you. Come back often to see what's new.
-Glenn, a.k.a. The House Whisperer
| Jaws of Destruction |
| Written by Glenn Stewart |
| Monday, 19 October 2009 05:20 |
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One of the greatest threats of having wild animals making a home in your attic is that they can cause destruction particularly to electrical wires. Squirrels, rats and mice are all rodents. Their teeth grow non-stop like your fingernails. Just like a cat that scratches its claws to keep them in check and we trim our nails; rodents gnaw to keep their teeth short and sharp. They like any surface that they can gnaw on. Wood is often preferred, but they will also chew on electrical wires, duct work and other materials. If a rodent in the attic chews through the electrical wire outer jacket and exposes both the positive and the negative copper wires, then the rodent is electrocuted. A rodent in the attic that makes "contact" while chewing on attic wiring can catch on fire as the electrical currents cook the rodent. This contact made by a rodent in the attic chewing on wiring can also cause an electrical short in the wiring... And the next thing you know, your kitchen lights aren't working any more. |
| Last Updated on Monday, 19 October 2009 05:25 |
