If you’ve ever had them in your attic, you probably share the sentiment that “squirrels are rats with beauty enhancements.” Squirrels might be cute, but they can wreak havoc in your home, including your wiring system.
Squirrely Problems. During the cooler months, squirrels take your warm attic as an open invitation for them to move on in. Cardboard boxes, insulation, and other soft material makes a great nest. And then there’s all the metal…
Like mice and rats, a squirrel is a rodent, and their teeth grow continually. In order to keep the teeth worn down, squirrels have to chew on something that is harder than their teeth. While they aren’t really picky, they are partial to metals, which means they like to chew on wiring. They absolutely love aluminum, whether it’s in a wire or other electrical parts, so if you have a home built when aluminum wiring was used, you’re truly a squirrel magnet.
Squirreling Away. Obviously, a nest of squirrels is messy, unsanitary, and destructive. But it’s the squirrel’s attraction to the wiring that causes the biggest hazard to your home. When they chew through the insulation, it leaves the wires exposed. When they chew through the wire itself, it can cause flickering lights or even a power outage. The most dangerous scenario is that the exposed wires could create an arc fault, meaning the electricity in the damaged wire jumps and creates a spark, which could easily start a fire.
Squirrel Protection. Unfortunately, we can’t do much about the squirrels themselves, but we can repair the damage that they have caused. We can also install arc fault circuit interrupters to help prevent fires caused by any squirrels you may have in the future.
All homes are susceptible to a squirrel invasion. If you’ve already had them, whether you know it or not, you probably have damage to your wiring from squirrels. If you haven’t had them, your turn is probably coming. Whether you need repair and/or prevention, we can help you protect your wiring from squirrels and other rodents. Give us a call today, and schedule an inspection.
